Australian Political Exchange Council

The Council manages a political exchange programme to arrange visits of young political leaders between Australia and other countries. The Council is comprised of up to six members who are selected by the principals of the council. The current principals are the Parliamentary leaders of the three major political parties in the Australian Government. Secretariat services are provided by the Department. In 1981, a program for political exchanges was established by the then Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, with the support of the leaders of the major Parliamentary political parties, to arrange visits of young political leaders between Australia and other countries. An Interim Committee was created with the leaders of the major federal Parliamentary parties as its Principals. With the agreement of the Principals, the interim committee became the Australian Political Exchange Committee in August 1983 and subsequently the Australian Political Exchange Council in September 1991.