Australian economy stories - Page 2

AI tools and online deals help drive a 5% rise in Australian Christmas retail spending, with discount and department stores surging.

Young Australian men are ditching pub nights for online gaming, as new research shows digital hangouts now rival bars for socialising.

Energy bills surge for Australian SMEs as federal rebates end, driving cost cuts, delayed investment and a pivot to digital and AI tools.

Australian bosses split on burnout as AI both piles on pressure and eases strain, exposing a deep workplace wellbeing paradox.

CBA data shows wage growth nudging higher while jobs remain steady, reinforcing expectations the RBA will stay cautious on interest rates.

With crime costing Australia up to AUD $60.1 billion a year, robust PEP and sanctions screening is now a strategic necessity for business.

In 2026, agile AI, sovereign data, subscriptions and energy efficiency will redefine how ANZ businesses grow, compete and stay resilient.

OpenAI launches its first Asia Pacific OpenAI for Countries plan in Australia, pairing sovereign AI infrastructure with major skills drives.

One in five Australians has been duped by fake online tickets, losing an average AUD $432 as scams surge ahead of the busy summer events season.

Australian SMEs step up a campaign against the RBA’s proposed blanket ban on card surcharges, warning it will lift prices for all shoppers.

Cloudera forecasts Australia’s AI shift from pilots to industrial-scale, privacy-first deployments by 2026 as tech spend tops AUD $172 billion.

Ransomware attacks cost Australian organisations AUD $42 billion annually, urging a shift from prevention to pragmatic cyber resilience amid rising threats.

Australia's SME sector posts strongest half-year growth since 2023, driven by digital adoption and productivity, nearing pre-pandemic output levels.

Adactin launches AI Innovation Studio to help Australian organisations trial GenAI solutions using AWS tools, focusing on practical adoption and custom roadmaps.

Australian businesses could unlock a USD $60bn productivity gain by saving 8%-10% on external supplier spend without job or performance cuts.

Australia could boost its economy by AUD $235 billion in a decade through AI investment, with small businesses driving over half of this growth, research shows.

Australian SME loan applications rose 14% in Q3, driven by larger firms, amid cautious borrowing and ongoing concerns over loan serviceability.

Ingram Micro Australia has opened a new headquarters at 40 Mount Street, North Sydney, uniting teams in a hybrid-ready hub to better serve customers nationwide.

Firmus has raised AUD $500 million to expand its AI infrastructure Project Southgate across Australia, boosting local manufacturing and jobs.

Australian firms lose 1.3 workdays monthly per employee to tech issues, causing revenue losses and higher staff turnover, says new industry research.