Global Scans · Australia · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Australia will no longer be known for being as dependant on the export of natural resources over the next half century as in 2012. The need for new infrastructure to meet the strong population and economic growth of Australia will continue to be a priority for the medium term. There's no doubt the aftermath of China's credit boom poses a much bigger economic threat to Australia than Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. The Growth rate for Australia is expected to be stronger, although still below the long-term trend.

• [New] Tasmania will literally be plugged in to the mainland Australian grid in 2030 via a set of undersea cables. The New Climate.
• [New] The Australian government has a target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] Australian winter crop production is forecast to decline by 21% to 54.5 million tonnes reflecting lower average yields and a fall in area planted. Australian Rural & Regional News
• [New] To meet climate targets, Australia must slash emissions by 71% by 2035. Positive News
• [New] There is growing anxiety in the Australian community about a range of security threats. Welcome
• [New] Australia will associate to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, which addresses societal challenges in the digital, industry and space; climate, energy and mobility; and food, bioeconomy and agriculture fields. Research and Innovation
• [New] Prime Minister Keir Starmer has today announced a Australian-style ban for Teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing high-risk social media apps while safer platforms will be subjected to restrictions. Inforrm's Blog
• [New] Australia had been expecting to receive two used submarines and one new one but now plans for all three to be in-service vessels from the United States Navy. SBS News
• [New] Australia is most threatened by the erosion of the global trade regime and the broader rules governing international relations. East Asia Forum
• [New] There's $50 million for the Drake Brockman Drive Duplication at Gininderry and $30 million in 2026-27 towards the construction of a new animal welfare campus for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the Australian Capital Territory. David Pocock - Independent Senator for the ACT
• [New] Reviews from ARENA, the Australian Geothermal Association, and Geoscience Australia point to strong geothermal potential, while recent advances in the U.S., China, and Germany suggest some of the hardest technical problems may be easing. Yahoo News
• [New] Australian farmers have received some rainfall relief, but meteorologists continue to warn that El Nino could intensify during the second half of 2026. flavorist.com
• [New] Australia is one of the world's largest wheat exporters, making weather-related production risks highly significant for both domestic and international food markets. flavorist.com
• [New] Australia has increasingly focused on strengthening local food-processing capabilities following years of supply-chain disruptions and rising logistics costs. flavorist.com
• [New] Australian ski seasons will shrink by between 44 and 55 days by 2050 if the current climate trajectory continues. The Guardian
• [New] International arrivals into Australia grew 53.1% from 5.6 million in 2006-2007 to 8.6 million in 2016-2017 and are expected to grow by 75.3% between 2016-2017 and 2026-2027 to reach 15.0 million in 2026-2027, driven by continued growth from markets such as China, New Zealand, India, and others. Hitachi Review
• [New] Australian researchers have developed a new global atlas of human enzymes that could accelerate the development of more targeted therapies, highlighting the growing role of large-scale data and artificial intelligence in precision medicine. Pulse+IT
• [New] In Australia, the federal government's long-delayed AI Safety Institute is expected to open within months. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] While Australia is already gaining advantages from platforms such as My Health Record, the next level of opportunity exists to link data from hospitals, GPs, allied health services, private insurers, pharmacies, and even aged care facilities into coherent, actionable systems. IMARC Group

Last updated: 19 June 2026