DBrief Podcast by Australian Industry Group

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...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath sits down with David Martin, Director for Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the Australian Industry Group, to unpack the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) - a once-in-a-generation review commissioned by Government but steered by an independent panel of industry leaders. The review takes a fresh look at how Australia supports re...

In this episode, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson unpack a new report by the Australian Industry Group titled Trade, Tariffs and Supply Chains . The report explores the impact of recent trade tariffs on Australian industries, and the hosts delve into the strategies businesses are adopting to manage ongoing supply chain disruptions. They also highlight the critical need to strengthen Australia’...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson explore the complexities of Australia’s economic landscape, including challenges posed by time zones, public holidays, and the need for a unified economic market. They examine trade agreements - particularly those with New Zealand and ASEAN - and highlight the growing importance of digitalisation in trade processes. The conversation a...

The Economic Impact of Barcodes In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Marcel Sieira, Chief Operating Officer of GS1 Australia, about the critical role of supply chain data standards in today's economy.  They discuss the history and importance of barcodes, the significant economic impact of these standards, and real-world applications in various sectors such as retail and healt...

In this episode, Louise McGrath and Tennant Reed discuss the implications of Australia's 2035 emissions reduction target, focusing on how various industries can adapt to meet these goals. They explore the unique challenges faced by different sectors, the importance of carbon border adjustments, and the need for supportive policies to facilitate a smooth transition towards decarbonisation. The...

In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath and Jeffrey Wilson explore the evolving dynamics of gender participation in traditionally male-dominated industries like construction, mining, and manufacturing. Contrary to conventional narratives, new research reveals these sectors are leading the way in closing the gender participation gap, driven by automation, safety improvements, and the adoption of...

Chief Executive of The Australian Industry Group Innes Willox joins Louise and Jeff to cover some of the key outcomes of the Treasurers Economic Reform Roundtable including International Trade, Single Economic Market, State Regulation and Tax reform.  More detail on some of our policy work can be found on the Economic Reform Roundtable page . Remember to email industry.policy@aigroup.com.au to sub...

Jeff is joined by Tennant Reed and David Martin to energy and R&D - two make or break issues for Australia's economic aspirations. Why is getting things done so hard, and how can we go from simply wanting 'more please' to real change?