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 Australian Government is investing $1.3 billion in the Indigenous Rangers Program (2021-2028), with a goal of doubling the number of rangers by the end of the decade. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] Under Closing the Gap Targets 15 A and 15 B, Australia aims for a 15% increase in land and sea areas subject to First Nations legal rights by 2030. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] More than 1,700 species and unique habitats are considered threatened in Australia. The Guardian
• [New] Australia will grant its online safety watchdog more powers and increase the maximum penalty for breaches of its world-first social media ban, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying big tech companies are not doing enough to comply. financialpost
• [New] Australia says it will double fines on social media companies that fail to keep children off their platforms, accusing Big Tech of dodging the spirit of its under-16 ban. Al Jazeera
• [New] The Five Eyes intelligence grouping (the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) is warning governments and businesses to act now to shore up their cybersecurity, noting that frontier models are rapidly exceeding industry expectations. Peterson Technology Partners
• [New] Australian winter crop production is expected to decline by 21% to 54.5 million tonnes, reflecting lower average yields and a fall in area planted. farmmachinerysales
• [New] Australia is forecast to grow at 34.1% CAGR through 2036 as funds and insurers review longevity, disability and wellbeing evidence. FactMr
• [New] The Australian Government's Threatened Species Scientific Committee advises that feral horses may be the crucial factor causing the extinction of some nationally listed threatened species. Environment and Heritage
• [New] El Nino years were often linked to reduced winter and spring rainfall, hotter daytime temperatures across southern Australia, and an increased risk of frost due to clearer skies. Nine.com.au
• [New] Climate change would amplify the effects on Australia, including the risk of extreme heat and bushfires. The Guardian
• [New] The first measure will be whether Australia can host UK and US nuclear-powered submarines at HMAS Stirling from 2027, while building the workforce and safety infrastructure needed for a fleet it will not own for years. Forces News
• [New] Aukus goes beyond submarines, with the latest announcement in Singapore setting out plans for Australia, the UK and US to start delivering systems for uncrewed undersea vehicles from 2027. Forces News
• [New] AUKUS will enable Australia to operate advanced SSNs - the SSN-AUKUS class - greatly empowering the Royal Australian Navy during a time when other countries in the Indo-Pacific (the PRC in particular) are engaging in a rapid naval build-up. Britain's World
• [New] Australian methamphetamine users had 11 times the prevalence of psychosis found in the general population, and methamphetamine dependence further tripled the risk for psychosis, even after adjusting for prior history of psychotic disorders. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The Australian Marine Conservation Society fears the mainland arrival of H5 bird flu could pose a real extinction risk for the endangered Australian sea lion, with only 12,000 remaining along the coasts of South Australia and WA. The Guardian
• [New] Widespread automated external defibrillator availability could push cardiac arrest survival rates from 10% to about 20%. / Australia The Guardian
• [New] Australian Neocloud SharonAI and VAST Data announced an expanded strategic partnership under which Sharon AI will deploy 600 PB of the VAST AI Operating System across its AI cloud infrastructure. blocksandfiles
• [New] Australia needs A$ 630 billion in transition investment to meet its 2035 climate targets. Investor Group on Climate Change

Last updated: 03 July 2026