The Economic Perspective 16 May 2025

The Latest Trending Economic News Curated for You by Balmoral Group Australia

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Good morning readers, 

We begin this edition with a story about the 'M Farm' project. In this project, inmates and officers at a prison in NSW have collaborated to build an indoor farm. It has supplied produce to the prison's cafe and even won an award at a local agricultural show. The project aims to be a scalable sustainable farming project so that it can be replicated around the world and aid with lowering re-offending rates.

This week we also have stories on the latest quarterly energy dynamics report, why the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere keeps growing and what do Gen Z and millennials prioritise in the workforce: is it money? purpose and possibility of growth? better work-life balance?

Finally, we show a new interactive map - the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) - that shows the migratory patterns of more than 100 marine species around the world aiming to help with conservation efforts.

Happy Friday all!

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How Maximum-Security Prison Inmates and Officers Worked Together to Create a Farm Behind Bars 

Inmates and prison officers at Macquarie Correctional Centre are farming commercial quantities of fresh food in an indoor farm. As part of the project, they help with the design and development of the facility. Since November 2023, the farm has supplied about $3,500 worth of produce to the prison café. Find out more about the project here Photo Credit: Macquarie Correctional Centre Media Unit

Renewable Energy Hits Record High as Coal Splutters 

The latest Quarterly Energy Dynamics report showed that renewable sources powered 43% of Australia’s electricity grid in the first three months of 2025. Grid-scale and battery solar generation reached all-time highs, while coal and gas usage declined. Gas prices reached a new high on the East coast and wholesale prices varied by region. Read more here

A trifecta of expectations: younger workers looking for money, meaning, and well-being 

Deloitte released the 2025 Gen Z and Millenial Survey, which included responses from 44 countries, to see trends and forces that shape their careers. Not surprisingly, money is a main factor facing constraints from costs of living and higher education. Purpose is another major factor with most prioritising meaningful work or quitting due to lack of purpose. See more insights here

Even as emissions level off, carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is growing faster than ever. Here’s why:

The Global Carbon Project estimates human activities released a record high of 10.2 gigatonnes of carbon in 2024 and the atmosphere’s concentration of CO₂ rose at the fastest rate on record. Emissions of carbon dioxide have stabilised at 0.6% per year, compared to 2% per year in the previous decade. But this stabilisation occurred at a very high rate of emissions. The only way for this carbon to leave the atmosphere is through natural carbon sinks and they’re struggling to keep up. Read more here

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