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] A new research initiative led by Monash University researchers, the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre, and Optain Health, will harness artificial intelligence and retinal imaging to transform the early detection of chronic diseases in Australia. Mirage News
• [New] WGSN forecasts the great exhaustion to emerge by 2026, which it defines as a collective feeling of fatigue, stress and burnout from the times we live in, coined by researchers at the University of New South Wales, Australia. Vogue
• [New] Over the last 24 hours, the threat landscape has been dominated by a high-profile disclosure involving the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, alongside urgent alerts for widely used database and API management systems. / Australia Lean Security
• [New] Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 43% by 2030, but continues to face criticism for its ongoing reliance on fossil fuels. Caliber.az
• [New] Climate hazards will affect every Australian community. Caliber.az
• [New] Now is the time for Australian investors to plan how to align their investment policies, portfolio positions, and reporting practices to be consistent with impending climate-related investing regulation. researchaffiliates.com
• [New] Australia is forecast to harvest a larger winter grain crop this year, with Rabobank estimating total volumes to reach 62.8 million tonnes in its recently-released annual 2025/26 Australian Winter Crop Forecast. Southern Farming Systems
• [New] Income expectations for the coming year remain largely positive, with 41% of Australian farmers expecting their gross farm incomes to rise over the next 12 months (unchanged from last quarter) and 38% expecting them to remain steady. Mirage News
• [New] A third of Australian farmers plan to increase investment in their farm businesses in the coming year - 33% (up from 29%), while only 10% expect to reduce investment levels. Mirage News
• [New] Following the announcement that Australia will acquire nuclear submarines through the AUKUS partnership, some confusion has arisen. Covert Shores
• [New] The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is going big in the uncrewed underwater vehicle game. Covert Shores
• [New] The Philippines, Indonesia, and Australia represent key markets where energy storage systems provide capacity value rather than just arbitrage opportunities. Discovery Alert
• [New] Policy divergence between growth-focused China and India versus inflation-fighting Japan and Australia will be crucial. Whalesbook
• [New] Looking ahead to 2026, the Australian beef sector faces a year that could be shaped by three major structural forces, each with the potential to reshape supply, demand and global trade flows. Episode 3
• [New] For 2026-2027, building cost inflation in Australia is likely to be driven as much by labour rate changes, site overheads, and risk pricing as by materials cost inflation. AS Estimation and Consultants
• [New] From 2026 onwards the existing work visa in Australia will be replaced with the new skills in demand visa. CPDC.ORG
• [New] We expect increased pressure on the Australian wool industry from brands and supply chain actors calling for live lamb cutting to end. FashionUnited
• [New] Several central banks, including the Royal Bank of Australia a day ago, have already signaled that their next rate change could be a hike. Chrisman Commentary
• [New] Australia, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland all pay their hospitals per patient treated, and allow patients the opportunity to purchase care privately if they wish. Fraser Institute
• [New] Australia is contributing to negotiations for a legally binding United Nations Plastic Treaty, expected by 2025. ChemLinked
• [New] In Australia, the Australian Packaging Covenant Organization is leveraging EPR principles in its 2030 Strategic Plan, aiming to fund the recovery of problematic materials through eco-modulated member fees. ChemLinked
• [New] The summer surge blueprint will become the template for all Australian peak-travel periods, including Easter and the July school-holiday rush. VisaHQ
• [New] The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and other Five Eyes partners have warned of ongoing threats to global telecommunications infrastructure, with particular concern about China's demonstrated capability to maintain persistent access to critical systems. Compliance Hub Wiki

Last updated: 09 January 2026