Political overview
Austria is a federal parliamentary republic with power divided into the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
The legislative branch consists of a bicameral Parliament: the National Council (183 members elected by proportional representation) and the Federal Council (members delegated by Austria's nine federal states). The National Council holds primary legislative authority.
The executive branch is led by the Federal President, Austria's head of state, elected by direct vote for a six-year term. The Federal Chancellor, appointed by the President, heads the government and leads the Cabinet of Ministers. The government is accountable to the National Council.
The judicial branch is independent and includes the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Administrative Court, ensuring legal and constitutional oversight.
Austria celebrates its National Day on 26 October, marking the declaration of Austria's permanent neutrality in 1955.
Foreign policy
Austria's foreign policy is framed around 'active neutrality', participation as a full member of the European Union (EU), support for a strong role of the United Nations and respect for human rights and international law. Austria has been an EU member state for 31 years and a member of the United Nations for 71 years. It is one of the four headquarters of the United Nations and was elected as a non-permanent member on the UN Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.
While not a member, Austria is active in NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and has deployed personnel in various security and peacekeeping operations and missions.
Vienna is home to over 50 international organisations and institutions, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Bilateral relations
Australia and Austria work closely on a range of shared interests, including upholding international rules and norms and expanding two-way trade and investment.
Australia and Austria first established diplomatic relations in 1952 and celebrated 70 years of bilateral relations in 2022. In September 2021, Australia and Austria signed a Strategic Cooperation Arrangement to deepen collaboration in areas of shared interest, including trade and investment, foreign and security policy, climate and energy, education and culture and sport.
Australia and Austria's historical links date back to the beginning of European settlement. In the late 18th and 19th centuries, Austrians visited Australia as members of scientific, diplomatic and religious missions. Austrian Ferdinand Bauer was the botanical draughtsman on Captain Matthew Flinders' HMS Investigator, completing the first circumnavigation of the Australian continent from 1801 to 1803. The field sketches Bauer made during the voyage constitute the most detailed early record of the unique flora and fauna of Australia.
Most Austrian migration to Australia took place between the end of the Second World War and 1960. In the 2021 Census, over 48,000 Australian residents reported having Austrian ancestry.
High level engagement
September 2025 - Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, met Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, in the margins on the UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York.
January 2025 - Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Penny Wong, visited Austria and met with then Austrian Interim Chancellor and Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, and then Austrian Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, Dr Martin Kocher.
May 2024 - Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP, visited Austria and met with then Austrian Secretary General for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nikolaus Marschik.
March 2024 - Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, the Hon Emma McBride MP, met with Austrian Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, Dr Martin Kocher.
May 2023 – Then Austrian Federal Minister of Labour and Economy, Dr Martin Kocher, visited Australia. In Canberra, he attended meetings with then Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, then Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, then Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Tony Burke MP, and Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell.
February 2023 - Austrian Parliamentarian, Dr Reinhold Lopatka, led an Austrian Parliamentary Friendship Group visit to Sydney and Canberra. The group met with Australian parliamentarians, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon Milton Dick MP, and Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator the Hon Don Farrell.
Agreements with Austria
Australia has a number of bilateral agreements with Austria, including on social security, double taxation, mutual legal assistance and aviation. Texts are available at the Australian Treaties Database.
In February 2018, a Work and Holiday Visa arrangement entered into effect.
Economic diplomacy
Australia continues to seek opportunities to promote Australian business and raise awareness of shared benefits from increased trade between Australia and Austria. Bilateral business engagement is growing in the areas of sustainable technology, renewable energy, innovation, defence and digitisation.
Australia and Austria co-lead the Net-Zero Industries Mission to catalyse solutions for industrial decarbonisation by 2030. Through this mission, Australia and Austria established the Australia-Austria Industrial Decarbonisation Demonstration Partnerships Program, a joint funding call of $20 million to collaborate on the development of innovative technologies to decarbonise hard-to-abate energy-intensive industries. A successful project was announced in January 2025 with Australia's MCi Carbon and Austria's RHI Magnesita, together with the University of Technology Sydney and the Austrian Institute of Technology, working together to build the world's first Cabon Capture and Utilisation plant in the refractory industry in Tyrol, Austria.
Rio Tinto is part of the Hy4Smelt project, Austria's largest climate protection research project, a collaboration with Voestalpine, Prime Metals and Mitsubishi. Launched in Linz in September 2025, it aims to achieve iron and steel production with net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
Many Austrian firms have operations in Australia, including: Andritz (hydropower, processing machinery); Frequentis (communication and information systems); Fronius (solar energy); Kapsch TrafficCom (traffic management); Knapp (automation and logistics); Plasser & Theurer (railway sector); Rhomberg (railway sector); Rosenbauer (firefighting technology); Schiebel (drones); Strabag (road and tunnelling); Vamed (hospital management and operations); and Voestalpine (high performance metals and rail technology). Under an Australian Defence Force contract, Rheinmetall's Austrian subsidiary supplied a major order of military vehicles to Australia. Austrian businesses in the renewable energy sector, such as AVL and EcoExperts, are increasing their presence in Australia. Construction company WIEHAG, together with Dexus, is building the world's largest timber hybrid structure in Sydney, the headquarters for Atlassian.
Some of the larger Australian business operations in Austria include: IFM Investors (major shareholder of Vienna airport); Macquarie Investment Management (parking facility investment); Cochlear (hearing devices); European Lithium (a promising lithium mine exploration project); and ADX Energy (oil and gas exploration and production).
In 2024, the Austrian Australian Business Council (AABC) was founded as part of the Australian Business in Europe (ABIE) network to support bilateral business relations.
In Australia, the Europe Australia Business Council (EABC) leads business advocacy with Europe. The European Australian Business Council (EABC) led a high-level delegation to Vienna in June 2025 and met with key government agencies, the Federal Economic Chamber and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Austrade's Frankfurt office is responsible for Austria.
Regular business events held in both countries provide opportunities to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, including in support of the net zero transition, research and development, and investment.
Trade and investment
Two-way trade has increased over the past decade. Major Australian exports include travel, mineral resources (coal, non-ferrous metals), measuring and analysing instruments and telecom equipment. Austria's major exports to Australia are medicaments (including veterinary), pharmaceutical products, mechanical handling equipment, travel, rotating electric plant and parts, and manufactures of base metal.
Australian and Austrian firms have made significant investments in each other's markets over the past few years, with potential for further growth. The infrastructure and renewable energy sectors are among key areas of Austrian investment in Australia. Australia’s investment and commercial engagement in Austria is focused on clean energy, green technology, and industrial decarbonisation, supported by bilateral collaboration on the net zero transition.
Trade and economic fact sheet [PDF]
Public diplomacy and culture
The Australian Embassy in Vienna hosts and supports activities throughout the year to increase understanding of the Indo-Pacific, promote trade and investment opportunities, champion gender equality and an inclusive society, and showcase Australia's cultural credentials through dance, music, film, visual arts and photography.
Through DFAT’s cultural diplomacy and values-driven foreign policy – grounded in cultural integrity, deep listening, reciprocity, and respect – Australia fosters genuine partnerships that affirm Indigenous self-determination and strengthen international partnerships.
The Embassy works to prioritise and facilitate relationship and cultural exchange, elevating the rich heritage of First Nations people, and expand opportunities for First Nations owned and led corporations including through supporting exhibitions of First Nations artists, and hosting a First Nations fashion show. The Embassy supports the repatriation of First Nations ancestral remains from partnering Austrian institutions on three occasions, most recently in 2023.
Austria is an attractive destination for Australian artists and musicians. In addition to Australians being members of internationally acclaimed music institutions such as the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Opera, Australian orchestras regularly perform in Austria. In 2025, the Australian Youth Orchestra with First Nations didgeridoo player William Barton performed at Musikverein Vienna, one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world. Australian artists and technologists regularly participate in the annual Ars Electronica Festival, which focuses on new media art.
Australian academics are members of key Austrian research organisations and universities.
Australian Embassy in Vienna
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