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] Climate change could lead to more than 500,000 additional malaria deaths in Africa by 2050, a study by researchers from the Kids Research Institute Australia and Curtin University shows. Ecofin Agency
• [New] Under the AUKUS agreement, the Australian navy will acquire eight nuclear-powered (but not nuclear armed) submarines over the next decade from the United States and Britain. 9News
• [New] Australia unveiled on Sunday AU$ 3.9 billion ($2.8 billion) in spending as a down payment on a new facility that will build nuclear submarines under the tripartite AUKUS security pact with Britain and the United States. Economic Times
• [New] From 2027, US-commanded Virginia-class submarines will be based in Australia, while several Virginia submarines will be sold to Canberra from around 2030. Deutsche Welle
• [New] Despite substantial shareholder dilution over the past year, Alkane's earnings grew significantly by 360.6%, with forecasts indicating continued robust growth of 46.7% annually-outpacing the broader Australian market's expected growth rate of 12.1%. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Reaching 82% renewables by 2030 requires Australia to lock in roughly 5-6 gigawatts of new commitments every year - not in a final hour sprint, but with metronomic regularity. Hitachi Energy
• [New] In 2026, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will overtake the Americas in annual hybrid storage installations, with projects achieving discharge durations of up to eight hours in the United Kingdom and Australia. Zigor
• [New] Across the Australian insurance sector, diversity benchmarking and external validation have become increasingly prominent as carriers respond to regulatory focus on governance, culture, and non-financial risk. Insurance Business
• [New] According to Drive Australia, the 2026 BMW iX3 all-electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) will offer a 360-degree camera feature as part of a monthly subscription. BGR
• [New] Australia has committed to net zero emissions by 2050, and the built environment accounts for a significant proportion of national carbon output when operational and embodied emissions are combined. Highways Today
• [New] EU demand is forecast to increase by around 2% per year through 2030, and many other advanced economies - such as Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea - are also expected to see faster electricity demand growth through 2030. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Last September, the Albanese government committed to a 62-70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035 and net zero by 2050. / Australia The Conversation
• [New] Australian agencies' control over outputs is a threat to research integrity. Retraction Watch
• [New] Australia will select ministerial and other co-facilitators for negotiations and identify additional champions with Turkey for the action agenda and thematic priorities, including from the Pacific. Mirage News
• [New] Australia will have exclusive authority in relation to the negotiations, to shape and guide global decision making in support of the multilateral system and global trade and investment in clean energy industries. Mirage News
• [New] The Reserve Bank of Australia's unexpected rate hike boosted the Australian Dollar as traders anticipated further tightening. FPG Fortune Prime Global
• [New] Asia-Pacific will boost renewable energy capacity in 2026, led by China, India, and Australia, thanks to strong government support and climate goals, despite geopolitical and inflation challenges. TEAM LEWIS UK | London
• [New] Measles cases have recently been reported in other Australian jurisdictions, and currently any overseas travel could lead to measles exposure and infection in susceptible people. State Government of Victoria, Australia
• [New] For Australian equities, careful management of commodity-linked exposures will be critical, while the next phase of the AI theme may extend beyond AI technology providers to companies successfully deploying AI to enhance productivity and margins. Macquarie
• [New] How inflation evolves will be critical for central bank policy, interest rate expectations and asset valuations, making flexibility and risk management essential for portfolios in 2026. / Australia Macquarie
• [New] Current global government policies would leave us even worse off - heading towards 2.9 C. G20 countries account for nearly 80% of global emissions, but too many of them have not yet improved their climate plans ahead of COP26, including India, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Brazil. Greenpeace International
• [New] If inflation recedes more quickly than expected and productivity improvements take hold, Australia could enjoy smoother growth, rising wages and stronger investment - a scenario that would raise living standards without destabilising prices. The Times
• [New] Nearly half of households plan to cut discretionary spending - from takeaway coffee to holidays - in 2026, as living costs bite and inflation outpaces real income growth for many. / Australia The Times

Last updated: 20 February 2026