The National Robotics Strategy released today needs to take the uptake of automation technologies very seriously. As our Ai Group data shows, only a third of Aus industrials currently utilised robotics, and another third are 'robotics curious'. industry.gov.au/publications/n…

How's your Monday morning, Australian economists?

The crisis in Australian construction is a tale of two industries - builder margins have collapsed post-COVID while civil engineering has surged. Why? Private vs public sector effects.

It's the season of makuru in southwest WA, which means it's finally grevillea time. Here's four modern hybrids that have just awakened: 'Moonlight' (yellow), 'Elegance' (pink), 'Spirit of Anzac' (blood red) and 'Honey Gem' (pastel red).

Its a rugged time to be a young person entering the labour market. While unemployment in Australia inches up slowly, its already blowing out for youth. First their high schooling marred by the pandemic lockdowns, and now they enter a weakening youth labour market.

But seeing this, Jeffrey Wilson's prescient piece on Foreign Policy comes to mind. As Jeff argued 2.5 years ago: "Australia demonstrates that China’s bark is worse than its bite." /5 foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/09/aus…

Dear Australia, this is unedifying.

🚨 NEW PODCAST 🚨 As the #economy changes at a rapid pace, what tools and levers should #policymakers be using to enhance 🇦🇺Australia's economic security? Helen Mitchell, Darren Lim, Chris Flynn, Swati Dave and Tania Constable join Jeffrey Wilson to discuss. Listen now 👇

Why, in the middle of a housing crisis, is Australia struggling to increase our home building rate? Ai Group's latest research note digs into the data on the home building, and finds cost pressures are cruelling this critical national industry. aigroup.com.au/resourcecentre…

New data shows Australia's port performance crashed to new lows in 2023. All our container ports are in the bottom quarter globally; Freo in the bottom 10%. At a time of high inflation and surging shipping costs, this is very bad news for households and trade-engaged busineses.

Our inflation problem looks a lot worse if you consider industrial goods. The Producer Price Index has been going in the wrong direction for some time, now at an uncomfortable 4.8%. Building costs the prime culprit. The RBA may not target PPI, but consumers still end up paying.

Australia's labour market continues to be afflicted by a supply and demand imbalance. The closed border knocked 2% off the working population, then the post-covid boom added 10% to labour demand. What's this done to our labour market? Read more from us at: aigroup.com.au/resourcecentre…

I try a lot of rare WA plants in the garden, then forget the names. So I have no idea what this unique acacia, which has finally flowered after three years, is.

Grevillea 'Moonlight' (G. whiteana x banskiii) produces so many flower heads in late winter that even the pruning offcuts make a decent table arrangement.

Innes Willox, Australian Industry Group writes on how 'Nature and Knowledge is Not Enough' for Asia Agenda. Read now: asiasociety.org/australia/natu… Contribute to the conversation on social media using #AsiaAgenda or send us an email at [email protected]

"The factors needed for competitiveness in the industries of the future are much broader than those of the past. Australia needs to get our entire economic house in order to ensure we make the most of Asia’s net zero transition." Innes Willox Ai Group asiasociety.org/australia/natu…

Apropos nothing but boredom during a late night flight, it turns out the proportion of young people living in sharehouses crashed during the pandemic, but has since partially recovered. Will probably only interest Ben Phillips. Source: LFDS FM2 datacube.

Bluey "Cricket" is a love letter to Australian working class childhoods between the 50s and 80s, and it's just plain good for the soul.

Many think that Aus-India trade ties are "under-done" - but did you know that bilateral trade has more than doubled in the couple years since the pandemic? To learn why, read Ai Group's research note on the butgeoning Aus-India trade relationship: aigroup.com.au/resourcecentre…

Great to see Ai Group's analysis of Australia's productivity performance covered by Jacob Greber in ABC News today. But it's not so great to see the miserable decline in govt-connected industries continues... abc.net.au/news/2024-10-1…