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] Australia is projected to retain its position as the largest lithium producer by mined volume, especially from its hard-rock spodumene mines in Western Australia. Farmonaut
• [New] Australia is expected to retain the largest producer position thanks to ongoing expansion, rapid scale-up, and strategic investments in downstream processing. Farmonaut
• [New] Dedicated renewable capacity to hydrogen production projected to reach around 50 GW by 2027 highlights how renewable build-out is increasingly aligned with hydrogen needs, particularly in China, the U.S., Chile, and Australia. MarkNtel Advisors
• [New] Australia, ranked among the leading environments in the Henley Opportunity Index 2026, offers globally recognized universities, strong earning potential, and a highly integrated innovation ecosystem. Henley & Partners
• [New] The increased volume, up from 3 million trays last year as more orchards produce commercial volumes of fruit, will see consumers in Australia, Vietnam and Canada able to enjoy the sweet berry-like taste of Zespri's RubyRed kiwifruit for the first time. Produce Report
• [New] The increased volume, up from three million trays last year as more orchards produce commercial volumes of fruit, will see consumers in Australia, Vietnam and Canada able to enjoy the sweet berry-like taste of Zespri's RubyRed Kiwifruit for the first time. Rural News Group
• [New] Australia is facing a significant shortage of general practitioners, with experts warning that thousands more doctors are needed to meet growing healthcare demands. MAN TV
• [New] Without intervention, Australia faces a projected shortfall of around 20% in the psychiatry workforce over the coming decades. RANZCP
• [New] Australian organizations will spend more than AU$ 7.5 billion on information security in 2026, an increase of 9.5% from 2025. Gartner
• [New] Australian organizations are forecast to spend more than AUD $7.5 billion on information security in 2026, up 9.5% from 2025. SecurityBrief Australia
• [New] Persistent threat environments and the expanding use of AI - by both defenders and attackers - remain key growth drivers, along with the continuing talent shortage in Australia and rising demands for cyber resilience. SecurityBrief Australia
• [New] Persistent threat environments and the expanding use of AI - by both defenders and attackers - remain key growth drivers, as well as the continuing talent shortage in Australia and rising demands for cyber resilience. Gartner
• [New] The segment, which includes consulting, professional services and managed security services, is expected to reach more than AUD $3.7 billion in 2026, up 6.9% from AUD $3.48 billion in 2025. / Australia SecurityBrief Australia
• [New] Under the Industry Resilience Initiative, APRA and the RBA are overseeing work by key financial institutions and infrastructure operators to enhance industry-wide response capabilities to significant payments system disruptions. / Australia Reserve Bank of Australia
• [New] A prolonged outage at an FMI, or one occurring alongside other system-wide stresses, could damage confidence in the financial system with the potential to disrupt financial markets or amplify existing stresses. / Australia Reserve Bank of Australia
• [New] The global risk environment has deteriorated and remains challenging, with the potential for both financial and non-financial shocks to affect Australia. Reserve Bank of Australia
• [New] Without reliable and affordable energy, Australia risks losing key manufacturing sectors. Times Australia Today
• [New] The 2026 outlook points to a more complex operating environment for Australian producers, where policy decisions and geopolitics will play a larger role alongside seasonal conditions. Mirage News
• [New] China's tariffs on Canadian canola, European restrictions on certain agricultural chemicals, and upcoming decisions on US renewable fuel policy are all expected to influence price direction for Australian producers. Mirage News
• [New] Significant investments in submarine shipyards, workforce development, and defense-industrial integration across the U.S., U.K., and Australia are expected to generate sustained contracting opportunities for U.S. defence firms. Ward & Berry
• [New] The next wave of products entering Australian markets will be AI-embedded: autonomous driving stacks, industrial AI, and, eventually, service robotics. Pearls and Irritations
• [New] In large part, higher interest rates reflect expectations for the path of monetary policy, which have risen in Australia and most other advanced economies in response to the expected inflationary implications of the conflict in the Middle East. Urbantech Finance - Borrow For Tomorrow | Finance Broke

Last updated: 27 March 2026