Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA)
Elected Council Member for Australia for the term 2017-2021:
ROLAND ISLER VIC
I am a graphic designer and manage the print & design department at Caulfield Grammar School, one of the largest private schools in Australia. Since arriving in Melbourne in 1982, I have been involved in the Swiss Community in many different ways, including:
- Hon. Life Member and Past-President of the Swiss Club of Victoria
- Member of the Swiss Society of Victoria Assistance Committee
- Member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad since 2009
- ‘Swiss Review’ Regional Editor for Oceania
I am passionate about Switzerland, its culture and its people, wherever they live. My own experience as an expatriate for over three decades and my active engagement in the Swiss Community make me familiar with and sensitive to the needs of Swiss Abroad. I fulfil the duties as a CSA with passion and conviction and strive to be an effective representative and champion for Swiss people in Australia.
I enjoy getting immersed in history, especially the one of the Swiss in Australia. I published the book ‘To Australia! Letters of an Emigrant by J. J. Locher from Speicher’. The book is an annotated German transcript and English translation of a letter written in 1855 by a Swiss digger on the Victorian goldfields. The letter was originally published under its German title in St Gallen, Switzerland in 1857. The book is dedicated to the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad on the centenary of its foundation and was launched at the Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Bern in 2016. See publication.
I attended the CSA meeting in Brunnen in 2011 and the Congress of the Swiss Abroad in Davos in 2013 and in Bern in 2016.
Job: Head of Print Services, Caulfield Grammar School
T: +61 4 1293 5565 / Email
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News
Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with New Zealand – Swiss National Council says NO!
On 27 September, the National Council (Nationalrat) followed the recommendation from the Economic Commission of the Lower House and rejected implementing the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) with New Zealand. The majority of the members are of the opinion that the Swiss in New Zealand are disadvantaged over other Swiss living abroad, because of the Swiss pension (AHV) being confiscated by the New Zealand Government.
The Federal Council is to provide information on draft law that affect Swiss Abroad
On 19 September, 2017, National Councillor and Swiss Abroad, Tim Guldimann (SP/ZH), together with 70 co-signatories, submitted a motion obliging the Federal Council to inform in the event that a draft law or a proposed amendment affects Swiss citizens abroad. This would allow deliberating such effects at an early stage in parliament.
Council of States: Swiss banks "too big to fail" to accept Swiss Abroad
The Swiss Council of States yesterday adopted a motion which requires all Swiss banks that are “too big to fail” to accept Swiss citizens living outside of Switzerland. The motion was submitted by Filippo Lombardi (CVP/Ticino) and adopted with 23 votes to 14 and 6 abstentions. The banks in question are UBS, Credit Suisse, Zuercher Kantonalbank, Raiffeisen and Postfinance.
National Council votes for access to PostFinance for Swiss Abroad
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 11 September 2017 – the National Council (NC) today adopted, by 178 votes to 4 with 7 abstentions, a motion tabled by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the NC on 4 July 2017. This motion requires that PostFinance revises its universal financial services to extend them to Swiss Abroad in order to enable them to fulfill their financial obligations. PostFinance, the main shareholder of which is state-owned Swiss Post, has a special responsibility towards Swiss citizens.
The new Council meets at the Congress of the Swiss Abroad
In the lead-up to the Congress of the Swiss Abroad held in Basel, 116 delegates from all over the world assembled in the historic town hall on Friday 18 August for the constituent meeting of the new Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA) for the term 2017-2021.
Our fight for banking fairness is gathering momentum
The Swiss expatriates are turning up the heat on Swiss institutions to grant discrimination-free access to financial services. The issue has plagued the community for nearly a decade.
Echo Helvetia - Newly elected and keen
Adrian Plitzco from SBS Radio interviews Katja Wallimann Gates who has been elected as a member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad. She explains what the organisation stands for and how she herself wants to contribute (Swiss-German). Echo Helvetia
Politicians from the left and the right work together for Swiss Abroad to get access to banks
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 4 July 2017 – The Foreign Policy Commission of the National Council has lodged a motion (19 to 0 votes with 1 abstention), calling on PostFinance to investigate the extension of basic financial services for Swiss Abroad. Since 2008 Swiss Abroad find it increasingly difficult to maintain a banking relationship in Switzerland. Our countrymen abroad need a bank account to maintain health insurance, facilitate social security contributions or to conduct financial transactions related to real estate ownership.
The mobile passport station will arrive in New Zealand (Kaponga and Timaru) in October 2017
Swiss citizens residing in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue and American Samoa will have the opportunity to apply for a new Swiss passport and/or ID card in Kaponga or in Timaru instead of flying to Wellington for this purpose. This service will be available from 2 to 6 October 2017.
Delegates of the Swiss Abroad elected for the first time via the Internet
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 28 June 2017 – GENEVA: Yesterday, in the presence of the directors of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), representatives of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the canton of Geneva, as well as National Councillor (SP/GE) and member of the Council of the Swiss Abroad (CSA), Carlo Sommaruga, the electronic urn containing 1,378 ballots from Swiss citizens living in Mexico and Australia was opened. 7.43% of the eligible voters in Australia and 6.96% of those in Mexico participated in this premiere. For the first time, they were able to elect their delegates to the CSA online, using the CHVote electronic voting system made available by the canton of Geneva.
Social security insurance agreement for Swiss Abroad in New Zealand
Through an interpellation*, National Councillor, Roland Rino Büchel (SVP/SG), has asked the Federal Council when it intends to conclude a social security insurance agreement with New Zealand.
Obligation for system-relevant banks to accept Swiss Abroad
OSA PRESS RELEASE: Bern, 16 June 2017 – State Councillor and Vice-President of the Organisation of the Swiss Abroad (OSA), Filippo Lombardi (CVP/TI) has today lodged a motion in relation to system-relevant banks, which was signed by 35 members of the Council of States. He calls on the Council of States to ensure that all Swiss nationals can open an account with such a bank. This in return for the implicit state guarantee to save them if necessary.
Your input is needed - Swiss Migration Survey
Are you a Swiss who has migrated to Australia or New Zealand as an adult? Please take 10 minutes of your time to participate in an important research survey from the University of Waikato on Swiss migration motives and consequences.