DBrief Podcast by Australian Industry Group

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with David Latina, Commissioner of the Australian Trade Remedies Commission, about how Australia responds when international competition stops being fair. Dumping occurs when overseas exporters sell manufactured goods in Australia below their normal home-market price or cost of production, sometimes with the benefit of government subsidies. Although...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Brett Hyland from the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) about the systems of trust that underpin modern supply chains and international trade. From drinking water and medical testing to construction products and consumer goods, accreditation plays a largely unseen role in verifying that products and services meet recognised sta...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Australian Industry Group Director of Climate and Energy Tennant Reed about the growing number of climate and energy policy decisions shaping Australia's path to net zero. Tennant explains why many companies are still focused on getting their heads around climate reporting requirements, what "material risk" looks like in practice...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Jeff Wilson about two recent Australian Industry Group research notes examining workforce ageing and changing retirement patterns. While workforce planning often focuses on attracting and training younger workers, the discussion highlights why the other end of the workforce pipeline is becoming just as important. Older workers now make up a muc...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with human rights lawyer Vanessa Zimmerman, CEO of Pillar Two, about the growing importance of modern slavery and human rights risk management for Australian businesses.   Vanessa unpacks the realities of modern slavery in contemporary supply chains, challenging common misconceptions about what it looks like and where it occurs. From labour hire arr...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with the Hon Tim Watts MP about the findings of the House of Representatives inquiry into building Asia capability in Australia and why it matters for the country's future effectiveness in the region. As Asia becomes increasingly important to Australia's economy and strategic interests, the report argues that many of the capabilities neede...

In this episode of DBrief, Jeff Wilson turns the tables and interviews Louise McGrath about a series of major policy developments shaping the operating environment for Australian industry. The conversation begins with artificial intelligence, following the Prime Minister's announcement of a new Office of AI. The discussion examines what the shift means for businesses, how Australia's app...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Simon Dowding from Pact Group about the future of packaging, recycling and Australia's efforts to build more resilient supply chains. The discussion begins with the impact of recent disruptions to global resin markets following the conflict in Iran, and how packaging manufacturers have responded by diversifying supply chains, increasing in...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Lee Hickin, Executive Director of the National AI Centre, about Australia's AI adoption journey and what it will take for businesses to move from experimentation to meaningful impact. The discussion explores the gap between widespread use of AI tools and the slower pace of business transformation. Louise and Lee examine why many organisati...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Kristian Stratton from Australian Industry Group Apprentice and Trainee Centre about one of the biggest challenges facing Australian industry: finding the workers needed to support growth, infrastructure, manufacturing and essential services. The conversation examines two critical parts of the workforce equation. First, Louise and Kristian disc...

In this episode of DBrief , Dr. Jeff Wilson speaks with Innes Willox, CEO of Australian Industry Group, about the Federal Budget’s capital gains tax changes and what they mean for investment and the economy. They discuss how these proposals have dominated the budget narrative, despite a range of positive business measures on tax, investment and regulation. The conversation traces how the changes e...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Rod Balding, CEO of Standards Australia , about why standards are far more than technical documents and how they shape safety, markets and Australia’s strategic position in a changing global environment. They explore how standards underpin everyday products and infrastructure - from housing and transport to emerging technologies - and why they...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Dr. Jeff Wilson from the Australian Industry Group unpack the 2026-27 Federal Budget and assess how it measures up against the economic reform agenda set at last year’s productivity roundtable.   They revisit the key priorities discussed at the roundtable - particularly productivity, regulatory reform and tax simplification - and examine where the budg...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Ash Salardini, CEO of Australian Sugar Manufacturers, about the role biofuels - particularly ethanol - could play in strengthening Australia’s fuel security as the conflict in Iran continues to disrupt global supply. The conversation explores why ethanol is being raised again as a practical policy option, and how a national ethanol mandate coul...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Jeff Wilson from the Australian Industry Group return to the conflict in Iran, as impacts move beyond fuel prices and deepen across industrial supply chains.  They explain why businesses may be entering a new stage of the shock - shifting from monitoring risk to absorbing real costs, operational uncertainty and disruption. The discussion highlights how...

In this episode of DBrief , Louise McGrath and David Martin from the Australian Industry Group discuss the final report of the Strategic Examination of Research and Development in Australia and what it means for industry, innovation and productivity. They explain why the review was commissioned, how Australia compares with its OECD peers, and what is at stake if current settings remain unchanged....

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Jeff Wilson from the Australian Industry Group discuss how the conflict in Iran is disrupting liquid fuel supply, international freight, and critical industrial inputs across the Australian economy.   They unpack why Australia can have adequate national fuel stocks while regional communities still experience empty bowsers and caps at the pump. The conv...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with the Australian Industry Group’s state heads, Tim Piper in Victoria and Estha van der Linden in South Australia, to explore what businesses on the ground are really facing as both states head into pivotal 2026 election campaigns. The conversation highlights the pressure created by land tax increases in Victoria, payroll tax design issues in Sout...

In this episode, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson unpack Australian Industry Group's Australian Industry Outlook for 2026, revealing a landscape where businesses are juggling rising costs, mixed demand expectations, and rapidly evolving technologies. While the extreme uncertainty of recent years has eased, companies remain cautious as they face tighter margins, persistent skills shortages...

In this third Summer Series episode, we spotlight two century‑old Australian manufacturers - InfraBuild and Dux - who are using AI not as hype, but as a practical lever for safety, service coverage, and productivity. From Sharmy Francis, Innovation Manager at InfraBuild , we hear how automating product tagging on 24/7 rolling mills strengthened end‑to‑end traceability, removed ergonomic risks, and...

In this episode, we spotlight two industries where the stakes couldn’t be higher - healthcare and superannuation - and ask: how do organisations build trust, navigate regulation, and introduce AI responsibly in emotionally sensitive environments? Our panel brings together three leaders implementing AI at scale: Greg Hill, Head of Data Strategy, Analytics and Insights, AustralianSuper , shares how...

In this episode, we explore one of the most pressing questions for Australian industry: why is AI adoption still so low, and what will it take to change that? Our panel brings together three unique perspectives: Martin U. Ripple , Group Chief Executive, ANCA - a leader in CNC machines -shares how his company overcame internal resistance and is now pushing the boundaries with virtual employees and...

In this episode, Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox joins us to review Australia’s economic landscape in 2025. He reflects on a year marked by slow growth and persistent inflation, outlining why stronger government action is essential to reignite private sector confidence. We explore the pressures of rising energy costs, the country’s transition to net zero, and the growing role of AI acro...

In our new report, the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Government’s National Artificial Intelligence Centre explore how Australian businesses are embracing and integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their daily operations, highlighting how AI benefits companies, their people, and Australian industry. The report covers six diverse companies - two of which join us in this podcast...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Tennant Reed discuss the ongoing COP30 conference in Brazil, focusing on the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) reform in Australia, the major issues being addressed at COP30, particularly the financial mechanisms for climate action, and the role of industry in achieving sustainability. They also explore Australia's positi...