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] Sydney will get a new trial electric ferry after the state government signed contracts to build the locally designed, Australian-made vessel. The Guardian
• [New] Australia will need 1.3 million tech workers by 2030, requiring around 60,000 additional technology workers each year to meet national demand. Cyber Daily
• [New] Given the scale of AI cyber threats now facing Australia, the broader question is whether we are moving quickly enough. Cyber Daily
• [New] By 2026, AI Software Development will no longer be an optional accelerator but the core fabric of modern delivery pipelines across enterprises and scale-ups. / Australia EVOKEHUB
• [New] By 2026, software leaders in Australia will differentiate not by whether they use AI, but by how effectively they design, govern, and scale AI-augmented engineering ecosystems across their portfolios. EVOKEHUB
• [New] The Future Drought Fund is reduced by $52.0 million over four years, and the Natural Heritage Trust agriculture stream by $35.0 million from 2028-29. / Australia The Grants Hub
• [New] Australia is facing a volatile summer in 2026, with heatwaves, bushfires, and flooding expected to be more severe than in previous years. PrepMates
• [New] Australia will likely see heatwaves that are more extreme and last longer. PrepMates
• [New] During 2026, many regions in Australia are expected to experience an increased risk of bushfires, especially during extended heatwaves. PrepMates
• [New] Australia will build its first Aukus submarine, based on the UK design, in Adelaide. The Guardian
• [New] The Australian Government will work with state and territory governments through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Collaboration to improve cultural safety in health settings for First Nations people. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments committed to closing the gap in life expectancy between First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation (by 2031). AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] Principle 1 redefines the educated Australian as one who exhibits the enduring dispositions and capabilities that we will always value humans exhibiting, even as AI capabilities continue to develop. Hybrid Horizons: Exploring Human-AI Collaboration
• [New] As Jobs and Skills Australia notes, security employment is projected to grow 14.2% through 2029 - a signal that demand already outstrips supply and will not correct quickly. Tech Guide
• [New] Pill testing can be an effective harm reduction tool in a range of contexts, with support for its implementation in Australia and opportunities for its broader application in other countries and drug use settings. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Another concern relates to the threats posed by new psychoactive substances, which have emerged in Australia following rapid rises in Europe and popularity at dance-parties and music festivals. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] States and Territories will receive AUD 79.2 million over three years from 2026-27 to support implementation of national digital health reforms of public hospitals under the National Health Reform Agreement. / Australia Baker McKenzie
• [New] Like Germany, Japan is rearming, planning to increase military spending by two-thirds by 2027, while Australia is acquiring nuclear submarines with US and UK assistance under the AUKUS pact. Counterfire
• [New] The projected El Nino is likely to yield asymmetric impacts; with drought-like conditions reducing maize, rice, and wheat production in Asia and Australia and wet conditions boosting global soybean production in the Americas. ORF Middle East

Last updated: 22 May 2026