It was understandable, therefore, that the economies would follow similar paths.   Second, the financial and cultural links between the two countries have always been very strong. The United States is a large investor in Australia and many Australian companies have operations in the US. US economic news receives very wide coverage in the Australian media.
An opportunity which is worthwhile bearing in mind relates to the big changes in the exchange rate of the rand, i.e. the relative price of producing goods and services locally rather than elsewhere. A domestic wine exporter selling a bottle of wine for $ would have pocketed R37 five years ago; today they would realise R69.