O75 Public Administration

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence up 3.1 points to 80.2 driven by rising confidence about the Australian economy

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Feb-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 3.1 points to 80.2 in the week to 22 February; it is now 9.6pts lower than a year ago (89.8), and in line with the 2026 weekly average of 80.4. Analysis by State shows that Consumer Confidence is rising in most States (including New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia), but down in Western Australia. Now 18% of Australians (unchanged) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 44% (down 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, 24% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 36% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 9% (up 2ppts) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 34% (down 3ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (unchanged) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 38% (down 2ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations were at 5.2% in mid-February – down 0.3% points from the month of January

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 25-Feb-26

The weekly ANZ-Roy Morgan Inflation Expectations have remained high so far in 2026, averaging 5.4% over the first seven weeks and were at 5.2% for the week of 16-22 February (down 0.3% points from the full month of January). A look at monthly Inflation Expectations for January shows the measure at 5.5% for the month – unchanged from the prior month of December, and the equal highest monthly figure since July 2023. Looking back over the last six months, since late August 2025, weekly Inflation Expectations have moved in a band of 4.7% to 5.6%, and averaged 5.2%. A look at Monthly Inflation Expectations on a State-based level for January shows increases in Tasmania, Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, but sharp declines in both Queensland and South Australia cancelling out the overall movement. The data for the Inflation Expectations series is drawn from the Roy Morgan Single Source, which has interviewed an average of around 5,300 Australians aged 14+ per month over the last decade and includes interviews with 3,023 Australians aged 14+ in January 2026.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Warning Bell: focus on antisemitism first

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Original article by James Dowling
The Australian – Page: 1 & 2 : 25-Feb-26

The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion held its first public hearing in Sydney yesterday. Royal commissioner Virginia Bell used her opening statement to disclose that the inquiry will not hear evidence from witnesses to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack or family members of victims; she contended that doing so could prejudice the criminal trial of the surviving gunman. Bell also emphasised that the inquiry will primarily focus on anti-Semitism, although she acknowledged that people of other faits and ethnic backgrounds are also subject to prejudice in Australia.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. ROYAL COMMISSION ON ANTISEMITISM AND SOCIAL COHESION

Overall Australian unemployment and under-employment at 3.49 million in January; Real Unemployment surges to 1.82 million

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Feb-26

In January 2026, Australian ‘real’ unemployment increased 149,000 to 1,818,000 (11.2% of the workforce, up 0.8%), although under-employment dropped 111,000 to 1,676,000 (down 0.8% to 10.3%). Roy Morgan estimates the overall workforce size (which adds together the employed and unemployed) at a record high just above 16.2 million in January – 16,212,000 to be exact, up 115,000 on a month ago, and representing 69.6% of Australians aged 14+. Australian employment trends followed the usual workforce movements after Christmas with part-time employment down 206,000 to 5,073,000 after the end of the Christmas retailing season with many temporary jobs, and equivalent to 35.2% of employed Australians. In addition, full-time employment increased 173,000 to 9,321,000, and equivalent to 64.8% of employed Australians. This led to overall employment dropping 34,000 to 14,394,000.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 77.1 in mid-February – remains near two-year lows

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 18-Feb-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence was virtually unchanged at 77.1 in the week to 15 February, near the more than two-year low reached a week ago; it is now 8pts lower than a year ago (85.1), and 3.3pts below the 2026 weekly average of 80.4. Analysis by State shows shows mixed results, with Consumer Confidence up in Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia, down in Western Australia, and virtually unchanged in New South Wales. Now 18% of Australians (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 45% (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, only 22% (unchanged) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the equal lowest figure for this indicator since July 1989), while 37% (up 2ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 7% (down 1ppt) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 37% (down 1ppt) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (unchanged) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 40% (up 1ppt) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Taylor’s purge of frontbench rewards conservative backers

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 18-Feb-26

Opposition leader Angus Taylor says his frontbench reshuffle marks a "fresh beginning" for the Coalition. Six members of the Liberal Party’s conservative faction have been promoted to the shadow cabinet, including Jacinta Price, Andrew Hastie and Sarah Henderson. Meanwhile, Tim Wilson has been shifted to the treasury portfolio and Clare Chandler will take on the finance portfolio. Four moderates have been demoted to the outer shadow ministry and four will join the backbench. Taylor has also reinstated the portfolios of Nationals frontbenchers who had been ‘sinbinned’ by Taylor’s predecessor Sussan Ley after they voted against Labor’s hate speech laws.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Albanese’s message for ISIS brides: no sympathy and expect full force of the law

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Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 1 & 5 : 18-Feb-26

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says the latest group of so-called ISIS brides in Syria who are seeking to return to Australia should not be allowed to do so. He contends that "the door must be shut" to people who do not believe in Australian values, and he has called for transparency from the federal government regarding its management of the 34 women and children. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated that the government is "providing absolutely no support" to the ISIS brides and is not repatriating them. He adds that the cohort will "face the full force of Australian law" if they return and are found to have committed any offences. A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has indicated that he is getting advice as whether some of the 11 women and 23 children can be barred from Australia via temporary exclusion orders.

CORPORATES
LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Doctors fees revealed as bulk billing spikes

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Original article by Natasha Robinson
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 11-Feb-26

Data from the federal government shows that 3,412 medical clinics nationwide now offer full bulk-billing, an increase of nearly 1,300 since Labor’s reforms were introduced in November. The figures show that the national bulk-billing rate has increased by more than four percentage points to 81.4 per cent of GP consultations over the last three months. Health Minister Mark Butler says GPs and medical clinics are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and their practices. Meanwhile, the government will legislate to allow more data to be uploaded to the existing Medical Costs Finder website; this will enable consumers to compare out-of-pocket expenses for GPs, specialists and hospitals.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH, DISABILITY AND AGEING, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence drops 3.6pts to 76.9 – down over 7pts in two weeks to lowest since December 2023

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 3.6pts to 76.9 in the week to 8 February; it is now 9.8pts lower than a year ago (86.7), and 4.1pts below the 2026 weekly average of 81.0. Analysis by State shows that the Reserve Bank’s decision to raise interest rates for the first time in more than two years hit confidence everywhere, with a uniform fall in confidence across all States this week. Now just 16% of Australians (down 2ppts) say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 47% (up 2ppts) say their families are ‘worse off’. Looking forward, only 22% (down 2ppts) of respondents expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year (the lowest figure for this indicator since July 1989), while 35% (down 1ppt) expect to be ‘worse off’. Only 8% (unchanged) of respondents expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 38% (up 5ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 20% (down 1ppt) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 39% (unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumps 7.6pts to 97.4 in January – the lowest confidence rating since April 2025

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 11-Feb-26

In January 2026 Roy Morgan Business Confidence slumped 7.6pts to 97.4, its lowest rating since April 2025 (96.7). The result followed a spike in inflationary pressures, with the official ABS annual inflation estimates for November at 3.4% (released in early January), and now jumping to 3.8% for the 12 months to December 2025 (released in late January). Business Confidence is now 12.3pts below the long-term average of 109.7, and down 10.8pts from January 2025. Now 27.2% (down 7.9ppts) of respondents say their business is ‘better off’ financially than a year ago, while 29.7% (down 2.2ppts) say the business is ‘worse off’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since June 2021). Just 33.3% (down 13.1ppts) expect the business to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, while 24.4% (up 5.4ppts) expect the business to be ‘worse off’. Meanwhile, 34.9% (down 5.4ppts) of respondents say the next 12 months will be a ‘good time to invest’ in growing the business, while 36.9% (up 2.8ppts) say the next 12 months will be a ‘bad time to invest’.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED