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] 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
• [New] Based on Australian Institute of Digital Health, the number of smartphone users in Australia will grow by 3.7 million to 23.6 million by the year 2026. IMARC Group
• [New] Australia could be in for a hotter and drier summer, with weather experts warning that El Nino may return later in 2026. Magic 105.9
• [New] Australian organizations will get access to the artificial intelligence model that Anthropic has deemed too dangerous for public release, as part of a staggered global rollout aimed at hardening critical systems against hackers. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] Defence spending has grown substantially over the decade, with the 2025-26 budget estimated at around A$ 62-63 billion, an increase of 5% over the previous year, and long-term funding commitments projected at roughly A$ 765 billion over the next decade. / Australia ISSRA Insights
• [New] Australia will no longer receive any new Virginia-class submarines from the US, with all three of the Aukus vessels to be second hand. The Guardian
• [New] The first pillar involves equipping Australia with conventionally armed nuclear-powered submarines that are projected to eventually cost Canberra hundreds of billions of dollars, while also involving rotational deployments of UK and US submarines to Australia. ST
• [New] The US, UK and Australia say they will develop underwater drone technology to protect undersea cables and boost defence, under their military alliance known as Aukus. BBC News
• [New] AUD 1.8 billion over six years from 2026-27 in equity for the Australian Rail Track Corporation to invest in its interstate rail network. Westpac IQ
• [New] Australia is projecting its wheat exports in 2026 will be 10 million tons lighter than usual amid rising fertilizer costs and a strong forecasted El Nino. Circle of Blue
• [New] The Northern Territory and South Australia represent unique opportunities for digital health expansion, given their relatively sparse populations and significant healthcare challenges in remote and Indigenous communities. IMARC Group
• [New] The extensive rural and regional regions of Australia create a further opportunity for preventive digital solutions to enhance self-management and early intervention where healthcare access is not available. IMARC Group

Last updated: 12 June 2026