The Latest Trending Economic News Curated for You by Balmoral Group Australia
"The real wealth of the Nation lies in the resources of the earth - soil, water, forests, minerals, and wildlife" - Rachel Carson
Welcome to this week's edition of Economic Perspective!
Environmental risks, including biodiversity loss and extreme weather, pose the greatest long-term threats to the global economy, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Risks Report. In Australia, where half the economy depends on nature, environmental conditions are rapidly deteriorating. Addressing these challenges requires immediate action, as delayed intervention will only make restoration more costly.
Sustainability, resilience, and societal impact are core values at Balmoral Group. Our expertise spans natural resources, water, and agriculture, and we’re proud to have President Jays Manroe in Australia for the 2025 AARES Conference, where she presented innovative funding tools for improving water quality and adapting natural resource strategies.
In this edition, our first article highlights Australia’s housing crisis, driven partly by record migration, with the government introducing a policy to bar temporary residents from buying existing homes between April 2025 and March 2027. Our second article explores the East Coast Gas Crisis, where 80% of Australia’s gas exports are sold overseas, pushing domestic electricity prices and inflation higher. Experts suggest that redirecting a portion of uncontracted export gas to the domestic market could help stabilize prices. Lastly, in our third and fourth articles, we examine the slowdown in wage growth to 3.2% and the Reserve Bank’s decision to cut interest rates for the first time in over four years.
Enjoy the rest of your day and a great weekend ahead!
Foreign residents barred from buying existing homes for two years
Australia's housing crisis is driven by record migration, slow planning approvals, and labor shortages. To ease demand, the government will ban temporary residents from buying existing homes between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2027. This extends current restrictions on foreign investors and aims to increase housing availability. The government will also target investors holding undeveloped land. Read more here.
Instead of developing more gas, expert argues Australia should limit exports
With 80% of Australia’s gas exports sent offshore, domestic electricity prices have surged, fueling inflation and driving interest rates higher. This has forced energy-intensive businesses to shut down. Rather than increasing gas production, experts argue that redirecting a small portion of uncontracted export gas to the domestic market could help stabilize supply and lower costs. Read more here.
RBA dashes hopes of further rate relief after first cut in four years
Millions of home buyers will see financial relief as major banks pass on the first interest rate cut in over four years. The Reserve Bank lowered the cash rate to 4.1%, saving borrowers with a $600,000 mortgage about $100 per month. Read more here.
The Future of Jobs 2025 Report
The World Economic Forum’s report surveyed 1,000 employers across 22 industries and 55 economies around the world to gain insights on the major factors that will affect the labour market by 2030. Broadening digital access was the top technological factor followed by costs of living and prices. More trends and insights on areas like growth and types of jobs can be found here.
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