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] The magnitude and endless maritime trafficking of illicit drugs to, and through the Pacific, has become a serious national security threat for the Pacific and Australia. Mirage News
• [New] As a middle power with diplomatic finesse, Australia will have opportunities to contribute to the future of global methane policy. Lowy Institute
• [New] The Australian Government is making Australia one of the world's most cyber secure nations by 2030. Mirage News
• [New] The UK and New Zealand will have limited relevance in various Taiwan conflict scenarios; Australia might well be heavily involved in a US-led effort; Singapore might well be forcibly drawn in; and Malaysia will do all it can to sit it out completely. Hudson Institute
• [New] The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, whose members are smaller powers, will become increasingly irrelevant as its ability to regulate great-power competition diminishes, causing member states to seek unilateral or minilateral non-ASEAN pathways to cooperation. / Australia Hudson Institute
• [New] There will thus be little genuine strategic cooperation or coordination between middle powers such as Australia and the smaller Southeast Asian powers. Hudson Institute
• [New] The federal government's Capacity Investment Scheme has been expanded to a 40 GW target by 2030, alongside the Rewiring the Nation program and state-level Renewable Energy Zone commitments across New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia. Fuse Recruitment
• [New] Leading psychiatrists from across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia joined senior public health officials and mental health professionals to address the psychiatry workforce crisis that threatens the sustainability of mental healthcare across both nations. RANZCP
• [New] Clinical trial sites are currently active in Australia and Canada, with additional clinical site activations expected in the second half of 2026, subject to site initiation activities and regulatory clearances. Solid Biosciences Inc.
• [New] Through year-round training, competitions and community programs, Special Olympics Australia creates opportunities for athletes to build confidence, friendships, independence and pride. Special Olympics Australia
• [New] Green Choice Proteins, an Australian plant-based nutrition company, will make its first sale to US consumers through OneLavi, a curated online marketplace for beauty, health, and wellness products. vegconomist - the vegan business magazine
• [New] In areas close to the tropical Pacific, the influence of El Nino can be profound, with a greater risk of drought and wildfires in northern parts of South America and Australia. BBC Weather
• [New] An AI assistant in Australia exploited vulnerabilities in a fitness-booking system to bypass restrictions and remove another person from a waitlist. MarketingProfs
• [New] The United States, Japan, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have all issued advisories regarding the risk North Korean IT workers pose to private companies, governments, and individual citizens. United States Department of State
• [New] The planning process would help ensure Australia made the most of the capacity building potential of high speed rail, with a strong focus on advanced manufacturing. Australasian Railway Association
• [New] Combined with ample Australian seaborne supply, we forecast premium low-vol coking coal prices to average US$ 205/t in the September quarter before moderating further into 2027. Westpac IQ
• [New] After a devastating season of wildfires across the Northern Hemisphere, attention is now turning to Australia as dry landscapes, increased fuel loads and a strengthening El Nino raise fears of a dangerous bushfire season. 7News
• [New] Australia and Japan have a bigger opportunity to look beyond two-way trade and expand their agricultural relationship into a broad cooperative tool central to international strategy, holistic economic security and domestic dynamism. East Asia Forum
• [New] The 2026-27 Budget provides the opportunity to further boost Australia's research and innovation system by unlocking additional funds from the Medical Research Future Fund and, if not completed, provisioning funding for Australia to become an associate member of Horizon Europe. Group of Eight
• [New] One study identified acclimatization as an approach that could be more widely adopted in Australia to manage WHS risks in hot locations by recruiting workers more selectively and ensuring their capacity to be heat-adaptable in a specific occupation. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] As a result of the impacts of climate change in Australia and across the world, the social and economic impacts will be substantial, with global gross domestic product losses predicted to be greater than 20% by 2100. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Heat-related productivity losses will occur in many regions of the world and, hence, also impact society and economies in Australia. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] A particular issue that has arisen as a significant threat to health as identified by Australian workers is that regardless of jobs or location, about 90% of workers might be affected by heat on hot days, compared with only about 10%, indicating that they may never or rarely be affected. PubMed Central (PMC)

Last updated: 28 August 2026