AGP Executive Report

Tariffs Watch: The US has proposed 10–12.5% forced-labour tariffs covering imports from 60 economies, raising the risk of higher prices for everyday goods in Australia as costs flow through supply chains. Policy Response: Australia’s government pushed back on the plan, calling it unjustified and highlighting “ideological disagreement” with the US. Industry Pulse: Australia’s industry conditions stayed weak in May, with the Australian Industry Group pointing to an energy crisis weighing on new orders, plus elevated input costs (fuel, freight, plastics, resins, packaging and metals) and softer selling price growth. Consumer Tech & Health: Control Bionics says its neurotechnology is gaining US reimbursement coverage for its assistive communication device, supporting distribution progress. Solar & Sustainability: UNSW’s Martin Green is backing real-world durability testing for next-gen perovskite solar modules, while a separate report argues solar recycling needs funding and rules now—not decades later. Retail & Payments: Mastercard plans to expand its Offers Network across Asia-Pacific, letting banks surface merchant-funded deals inside banking apps.

Product Safety Online: Choice has lodged a “super” complaint with the ACCC asking it to investigate potentially dangerous toys and banned goods sold on major online marketplaces, after recent ACCC actions including takedown notices to Amazon, eBay, Kogan and Fruugo and a lawsuit over kids’ backpacks with button-battery safety issues. Vehicle Recall: Kia Australia is recalling 1,180 Picanto hatchbacks (2020–2023) over a fuel feed tube clearance defect that could lead to fuel leaks and fire risk. Medicinal Cannabis Driving Rules (NSW): NSW will allow registered medicinal cannabis users to avoid automatic penalties if lab tests show THC below a set threshold, but roadside testing still applies and drivers can face bans and fines. Trade & Tariffs: The US proposes lifting Australia’s tariff from 10% to 12.5% from July 24 under forced-labour claims, with Albanese calling it “unjustified” and “ideological disagreement.” Retail & Consumer Deals: Aldi’s Crofton cast-iron cookware dupe is drawing big attention for its low price versus premium Le Creuset-style alternatives, while Amazon Australia’s Mid-Year Sale has shoppers snapping up a discounted SKIN1004 Centella moisturiser. Business & Brands: Treasury Wine Estates is doubling down on “power brands” like Penfolds as it reshapes its portfolio toward fewer, stronger labels.

Pharmacist-led care in NSW: University of Newcastle trials backed pharmacist management for uncomplicated UTIs and oral contraceptive resupply, reaching 17,000+ and 1,900+ women respectively, pointing to faster access and clearer referral pathways. Online product safety push: Choice is urging the ACCC to crack down on dangerous “toy-like” and banned items still sold via major marketplaces, arguing platforms must be held responsible before products reach shoppers. Energy and jobs pressure: ABS data shows Australia’s March-quarter GDP grew just 0.3% (2.5% annual), with cyclone disruptions hitting exports and cautious consumers weighing on spending. Consumer delivery upgrade: Repco has digitised last-mile delivery across Australia and NZ to improve real-time visibility, on-time performance and driver safety. Trade friction with forced labour: The US proposes up to 12.5% extra tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including Australia, after forced-labour enforcement was deemed inadequate. Health risk headline: A study links higher ultraprocessed food intake with a 58% higher dementia risk.

Minimum Wage Pressure: The Fair Work Commission’s 4.75% national minimum wage rise is already drawing fire from hospitality and liquor groups, which warn it will add to cost pressures on top of high interest rates and energy bills. Household Cost Watch: Australia’s March-quarter GDP grew just 0.3% (annual 2.5%), with ABS pointing to cautious consumer behaviour from higher borrowing costs and fuel prices. Supermarket Rules: Government rejected divestiture in the supermarket inquiry response, but backed a mandatory merger control regime from 1 Jan 2026 and a new excessive-pricing ban from 1 July 2026. Consumer Safety Recall: Sanofi Consumer Healthcare recalled specific Nature’s Own glucosamine and magnesium glycinate batches after TGA flagged possible glass fragments in bottles. Product/Brand Moves: BYD told Australians the market will decide if it can topple Toyota as EV deliveries surge; meanwhile, XPeng says it’s back with a factory-backed dealer and service setup after earlier import/distribution disputes. Food & Retail Oddity: A French delivery driver allegedly crashed into Sydney’s Archibald Fountain and was found eating McDonald’s when police arrived. Car Market Snapshot: EVs helped lift the new-vehicle market in May, with EVs up 111.6% year-on-year and a record 19.9% market share. Health/Agri Debate: Paraquat’s continued use in Australia is under renewed scrutiny after renewed Senate attention, despite bans in 70 countries.

Biosecurity & Food Safety: Varroa mite resistance is being detected in northeast Victoria, with beekeepers warning “beekeeping… doesn’t exist anymore” as treatment needs ramp up. Middle East & Grocery Prices: The Iran war is disrupting fertiliser and energy inputs, raising the risk of higher food costs and worsening global hunger. Consumer Safety (Online): Choice has asked the ACCC to act after finding unsafe, banned-looking “toy” products on marketplaces, including fake cigarette lighters and gel blasters. Packaging Watch: A “franken-can” (plastic-metal hybrid) has been named Australia’s worst packaging at the Unpackit awards, calling for national producer responsibility. Retail & DIY: Bunnings has been cleared to absorb Blackwoods and Workwear Group (Hard Yakka/King Gee), expanding industrial and safety supplies nationwide. Wages & Inflation: Australia’s minimum wage rises 4.75% from July, with economists warning it could add to inflation pressures. Energy & Climate: The UN warns El Niño could bring hotter conditions and more extreme weather, including drought and heavy rainfall risks. Aussie Consumer Tech/Travel: Amazon Prime Day 2026 is set for June 23–26 (4 days), with early deals already flagged.

Minimum Wage Update: Australia’s Fair Work Commission has lifted the minimum wage 4.75% from 1 July to $26.44 an hour (about $1,004.90 a week), with the lowest-paid award workers getting a higher increase to protect real pay as inflation stays elevated. Scam Protection Push: New rules under Australia’s Scams Prevention Framework would require banks, telcos and key digital platforms to automatically reimburse eligible scam victims up to $3,000, alongside stronger scam-blocking systems by 31 March next year. Food & Convenience: Fitness Outcomes is expanding its high-protein frozen ready-meal range, while Melbourne’s Harvest Pantry is rolling frozen smoothies into 950 Woolworths stores—both aimed at faster, simpler “better-for-you” shopping. Retail Tech in Action: Woolworths is trialling VR headsets for avocado supply-chain training to improve handling and consistency from farm to store. Energy & Solar Debate: A campaign is building to legalise balcony solar and portable home batteries after reports of illegal plug-ins by renters and apartment dwellers. Car Market Shake-up: Toyota says it has secured 10,000 more RAV4, HiLux and bZ4X vehicles for Australia as BYD ramps up deliveries, including a ute powertrain fix for towing. Housing Pressure (SA): South Australia’s housing crisis is back in focus ahead of the state budget, with calls for faster approvals and investment in serviced land and enabling infrastructure.

Energy & Renewables: Australia’s battery boom is now shifting 53% of new solar output beyond daylight hours, helping smooth evening peaks as rooftop solar keeps surging. EVs & Connected Cars: Zeekr Australia has rolled out its first over-the-air update for the 7X, adding an iPhone digital key and Remote Smart Parking Assist with straight-line remote parking. Cybersecurity: The US, EU, NATO, UK, Australia and Japan blame China-linked hackers for attacks on Microsoft Exchange servers that hit tens of thousands of systems. Consumer Finance: ATO-style tax guidance is in focus as more Australians use options and derivatives via online platforms, with warnings that tax treatment can differ sharply from shares. Retail & Travel Tech: Travelsphere and Just You hit £1m in combined agent quotes via TProfile, showing how travel operators are leaning into personalised, content-rich selling. AI & Work: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pushes back on “jobs apocalypse” claims, saying disruption is likely but not a total wipeout. Digital Infrastructure: Google, European Energy Australia and AirTrunk are preparing a 25MW Mulwala Solar Farm in NSW to power data centres with cleaner energy. Car Safety/Consumer Law: Tesla faces a China consumer lawsuit over Full Self-Driving promises tied to hardware limits. Power & Weather: Severe storms continue to batter Western Australia, leaving tens of thousands without power.

Energy & Cost of Living: Australia’s home prices flatlined in May as higher borrowing costs, Middle East-driven energy pressure and planned property tax changes hit Sydney and Melbourne, with listings rising and sales volumes cooling. Storm Impact: Western Australia was battered by a “once-in-five-year” storm, leaving about 70,000 homes without power after damaging winds and flooding; authorities warned many outages could run into Monday night. Transport & Consumer Safety: Hyundai issued a nationwide recall for 36,496 Hyundai Tucson vehicles (2025-26) over a software issue that can trigger unexpected braking from the Forward Collision Avoidance system. Retail & Consumer Demand: Peter Warren Automotive warned demand is collapsing after fuel price spikes and rate hikes, with EV order backlogs easing as customers shift toward smaller, cheaper models. Tech + Infrastructure: Google, European Energy and AirTrunk are preparing the 25MW Mulwala Solar Farm in NSW to supply renewable power for data-centre growth. Property & Logistics: ESR and Mitsubishi Estate Asia will develop an 18.3-hectare premium logistics estate in Western Sydney (up to 114,005 sqm) in a deal valued around $700m. Marketing & Culture: Tourism NT and marketers pushed back on AI-made “polished” campaigns, arguing audiences want real places, real people and real emotion. Automotive Offers: Isuzu launched a MU-X incentive offering three years of free scheduled servicing for eligible new purchases.

Severe Weather Disruption: A “once in five years” storm has battered Perth and parts of WA, with damaging winds (gusts up to 125km/h), flash flooding and widespread outages leaving 28,000+ homes without power as crews tackle 160+ hazards. AUKUS Undersea Security: The US, UK and Australia are planning uncrewed underwater drones to help protect seabed cables and pipelines from sabotage, with delivery targets next year under AUKUS. Consumer & Retail Tech: Kmart is rolling out an AI virtual try-on shopping assistant with Google Cloud, aiming to make online clothing purchases feel more like in-store. Food & Pricing Pressure: Beef prices are staying high, with experts pointing to supply tightness and longer-term drivers rather than just general inflation. Trade Watch: India and Oman’s CEPA kicks in from June 1, expanding duty-free access for key Indian exports—another reminder of how fast consumer supply chains can shift.

Food inflation pressure: Beef prices are hitting record highs, with economists pointing to drought-driven cattle herd shrinkage and tight supply rather than just general inflation. Grocery trade signals: China has reopened poultry imports for 17 US states after HPAI-related restrictions eased, which could lift export volumes. Consumer safety & regulation: Australia’s watchdog has moved to ban potentially deadly baby bottle self-feeding devices, adding to the push for stronger product safety rules. Tech & gadgets: Panasonic warns Japanese customers that Lumix L10 camera deliveries may be delayed after pre-orders outstripped expectations. Retail/brand moves: Larrikin Bourbon Co launches Koala Bare gin in the US, using Australian native botanicals. Property affordability: Analysis suggests Sydney and Melbourne house prices may fall, but borrowing capacity is dropping faster, keeping entry to home ownership tough. Energy security: Australia extends measures to allow extra petrol and diesel releases from domestic reserves amid global supply uncertainty. Consumer law watch: Tesla faces a China lawsuit over Full Self-Driving marketing claims.

Retail Pressure: Deloitte says Middle East-driven cost rises plus weaker demand are hitting Australian retailers from both sides, with retail turnover growth forecast to slow in 2026. Consumer Tech & Trust: New reporting highlights how AI is already shaping money management and fraud alerts, but raises the question of when to trust automated decisions. Household Costs & Policy: Australia’s Budget shift from the 50% property CGT discount to inflation indexation could backfire for some investors in a weak market, changing how much tax is paid. Housing & Fairness: A Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme lender panel is again under fire for forcing ADF members and veterans into higher-rate home loans. Payments & Feedback: Former dunnhumby boss Simon Hay joins TruRating as a board advisor, aiming to turn point-of-sale customer feedback into performance gains. Food & Supply Chains: A trade delegation tour in Victoria spotlights SPC’s push to grow international food partnerships. Consumer Safety: Australia Post’s NT post office network is criticised as parcels and digital services quietly reduce access to banking and government services. New Products: Kia’s PV5 electric van has been spotted in Australia ahead of customer rollout.

PFAS Lawsuit: Australia has launched a record $1.4bn action against 3M over “forever chemicals” in PFAS-tainted firefighting foam used at 28 defence bases, seeking major remediation and investigation costs. Consumer Safety & Compliance: The ACCC is taking action against Amazon Australia over children’s backpacks allegedly missing safety labels, adding to pressure on product compliance. Travel Consumer Fallout: AVG Travels has collapsed, leaving customers thousands out of pocket after bookings weren’t paid for and trips were disrupted. Cyber & Smart Home Risk: Hyundai Australia warns some AI-enabled EV chargers could bypass vehicle protections, potentially forcing unsafe discharge and raising fire/warranty concerns. Energy Bills & Homes: Windotek Australia promotes double and triple-glazed uPVC windows and doors aimed at cutting heat loss and improving comfort for Australian households. Retail & Jobs: Officeworks plans to offshore hundreds of roles to India and the Philippines as part of a transformation, reigniting debate over local jobs and service quality. AI Scams: Reports highlight rising voice-cloning scams and the need for Australians to protect themselves as AI fraud gets more convincing.

ACCC vs Amazon (Kids safety): The ACCC has started Federal Court action against Amazon AU over children’s “Unicorn Toddler Backpacks” allegedly missing mandatory button-battery warning labels, after 41 were bought in Australia and 267 were held in fulfilment centres in 2022. Retail operations (Jobs): Officeworks is offshoring hundreds of customer service and support roles to Manila and Bengaluru as part of a transformation aimed at keeping prices low. Energy reliability (Batteries): South Australia has fast-tracked six large battery energy storage projects, lifting grid-scale capacity from 1.1GW to 2.5GW to help prevent heatwave-driven price spikes. Food supply (Cottage cheese): A viral health trend is leaving shelves empty as cottage cheese demand jumps, with shoppers reporting frequent sell-outs. Market access (Delivery competition): The ACCC is investigating Uber Eats’ exclusive deals with retailers, with rivals claiming they restrict smaller competitors’ access. Consumer tech (VPNs): A new guide breaks down what’s legal around using VPNs in Australia for privacy and streaming access.

PFAS Legal Push: Australia has launched a record $1.4bn civil lawsuit against 3M over “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam used at 28 military bases, alleging misrepresentation and seeking cleanup and remediation costs. AI Adoption Reality Check: New data shows Australian SMEs are increasingly open to AI, but trust, privacy concerns and unclear “how to use it” paths are slowing deeper rollout. Payments & Fintech: Orbital is expanding Banking Circle infrastructure to add new currency corridors and client-named accounts, while Adyen and ROLLER launch embedded fast financing for leisure and attractions operators. Retail & Consumer Tech: Kmart is rolling out Google Cloud AI virtual try-ons, and Intel’s new Arc G3 handheld chips are set to power pricier Windows gaming handhelds. Home & Health Products: Levoit launches a winter indoor air care lineup aimed at flu season, and a new report flags growing demand for smart refrigerators. Sustainability & Packaging: Samoan and Pacific Islander groups protest Coca-Cola bottler CCEP, urging a shift away from single-use plastic toward reusable packaging. Energy & Infrastructure: Worley wins a framework deal with APA for gas transmission and storage work, supporting Australia’s push to expand capacity.

PFAS Legal Fight: Australia has launched its “largest ever” $2bn Federal Court action against 3M over PFAS contamination from firefighting foam used at 28 defence bases, alleging misrepresentation and withheld testing; Consumer Watchdog & Banking: Westpac has been fined $26m for failing to properly respond to hundreds of online financial hardship requests; Inflation Update: Australia’s CPI eased to 4.2% year-on-year in April, with trimmed mean inflation edging up to 3.4%—fuel relief helped headline numbers while core pressures persist; Scam Protection: Treasury proposes automatic reimbursement for scam losses up to $3,000, aiming to reduce harm as more Australians are targeted; Retail & Payments: Kmart is rolling out an AI shopping assistant for virtual try-ons, while Nayax is pushing PIN-capable payment terminals for unattended retail; Food & Drink: Little Big Dairy Co launches high-protein cottage cheese in NSW/ACT; Business & Packaging: APCO says packaging reform is moving from ambition to implementation, focusing on the “operating system” needed for EPR; Autos & Consumer Tech: Lexus cuts prices on its electric RZ, and Ninja’s Crispi Pro glass air fryer lands in Australia with a limited discount.

Consumer Safety Watch: Australia’s consumer watchdog has permanently banned baby bottle self-feeding devices, citing infant safety risks. Retail & Pricing Pressure: Radley’s UK stores are set to close after a pre-pack administration deal that only sold the brand and IP, not the shops—21 locations and 42 jobs affected. Food & Farming Grants: The IGP program has dispensed $201.5m across 133 food and beverage projects, with the latest round including AI crop imaging and algae production upgrades. Inflation & Cost of Living: Australia’s annual inflation eased to 4.2% in April after a fuel excise cut, but underlying inflation (trimmed mean) edged up to 3.4%, keeping RBA rate pressure alive. Energy Bills: Multiple reports point to power bill relief from July as fuel and electricity pressures ease. Travel Demand Signals: Pata’s agent survey finds “positive signs” for Pacific Asia travel interest despite Middle East conflict, with Japan and Thailand leading. Business Deals: Hewitt Foods is set to acquire Nolan Meats, with completion expected in 2H 2026.