Driving Forces Learn

Australia

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] Significant decreases in expected suicide rates were found in 12 areas (8 countries), ranging from New South Wales, Australia (rate ratio [RR] 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.91), to Ecuador (RR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.82).
[New] For no other reason than proximity, Australia has taken the threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia more seriously than the United States.
[New] The Australian government now needs to have a greater sense of urgency to act on the growing national and international calls to act on climate risk.
[New] Processing and manufacturing is largely conducted offshore - in countries vulnerable to climate risks such as Malaysia - before returning to Australia as finished products.
[New] China is expected to relax import restrictions on coal in 2021, apart from on Australia, with its total coal imports expected to reach around 300 million tonnes in 2021, compared to 304 million tonnes in 2020.
[New] Global trade flows will be self-adjusting with Australian coal flowing to Indian and European markets and South African and Colombian sources coming into China.
[New] Australia, the world's biggest coal exporter, will continue to benefit from growing Indian demand for its coal, made cheaper after it was shunned by China.
[New] The Liberal state government in South Australia is betting the future on batteries and says it will be 100% net renewable by 2030.
[New] Trade Minister Dan Tehan will use a trip to Europe to push for greater global access to vaccines, many of which are manufactured and, increasingly, consumed in the European Union because of export controls that have effectively blocked contracted supplies to countries including Australia.
[New] After a thorough review, RareX will begin a major drilling program later this month, which is designed to test a new geological model at its flagship Cummins Range rare earth element project in Western Australia's Kimberly.
[New] There have been growing fears in the West, including Australia, that the Chinese government is using academic talent programs to acquire intellectual property that can be put to military use.
[New] If Australia continues to ban Huawei, China might be tempted to refrain from carrying out the threat of banning Australian imports because China is clearly worse off under the scenario with a reciprocal import ban.
[New] Assuming that Australia chooses not to use Huawei's 5G network infrastructure for security reasons and that China imports Australian products, China will still remain better off importing from Australia, even if it loses it Huawei market in Australia.
[New] Australia has secured an additional 20 million doses of Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine, but Prime Minister Scott Morrison warns that the much-needed supply will not arrive until the end of the year.
[New] A diverse profile of vaccination sites, drawing on the benefits of different distribution modes, will help maximise the daily vaccination rate and vaccinate the Australian population against COVID-19 as quickly as possible.
[New] China's Blocking Statute and export controls could make life incredibly challenging for European companies if the European Union was on its own.
[New] National Cabinet agreed that the new ATAGI advice will require a recalibration of the Australian Vaccination Strategy for future phases, with changes worked through in consultation with states, territories and medical experts over the coming weeks.
[New] Conservative advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, recommending against the AstraZeneca vaccine for the under 50s (because of the very small danger of blood clots), has alarmed many people.
[New] In Australia and globally, many regions are facing the dual burden of health workforce shortages and increasing exposure to climate risks.
[New] The Australian government recommend against vaccinating anyone under 50 with the AstraZeneca shot because of the risk - and doubled its order of the Pfizer vaccine as a result.
[New] Saudi, like all Middle East markets, remains price sensitive and there will be resistance to expected landed sheep prices for Australian sheep going forward, given they have been able to source live sheep elsewhere for the last 10 years without the Australian supply.
As two of the largest coal production countries in the world, Australia and China should increase bilateral exchanges to balance their transition plans as the coal industry declines and - most importantly - support the economic transition for coal communities.

Last updated: 16 April 2021

Australia

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