Oceania: Strategy

Space-related assets are becoming investable for infrastructure investors, with opportunities in ground stations, mission control assets, data-processing facilities and dual-use platforms. However, investors must carefully evaluate technology refresh risks, regulatory complexities including spectrum and orbital rights, and revenue bankability through counterparty quality rather than relying solely on sector growth projections.

Once the domain of government agencies, today the global space landscape is increasingly driven by private organisations pursuing a more entrepreneurial and commercial utilisation of space. We have come to depend on space-enabled technologies, such as satellite-based services, for everyday activities including navigation, telecommunications, weather forecasting, emergency management, banking, mining, agriculture and transportation.

Cathro and Partners' expanded Cathro Clarity dashboard reveals diverging trends in Australian insolvency: corporate appointments have nearly tripled since FY22 while personal bankruptcies rose only 15%, with debt agreements now accounting for 43% of personal insolvencies. The data exposes striking industry patterns, particularly healthcare's disproportionate representation in personal bankruptcies compared to corporate failures, and construction's dominance across both categories.

APRA and ASIC have called on regulated entities to demonstrate that their governance, cyber controls, operational resilience and third-party risk arrangements can operate at frontier-AI speed.

Bartier Perry's leadership reflects on the firm's approach to balancing professional legal practice with strategic business management, highlighting recent partner appointments, regulatory changes in AML/CTF compliance, and housing reform initiatives. How does dedicated executive leadership alongside practising partners create a platform for sustainable growth while maintaining focus on exceptional client service?

Australia's Tranche 2 AML/CTF reforms are forcing professional service firms to confront a critical strategic question: should they continue offering services that now fall under regulatory oversight?

Last month’s National Vintage Report put the 2026 crush at just 1.27 million tonnes, down 19% year-on-year, the smallest harvest this century. Red production collapsed by 29%, and exports declined to their lowest level since 2004.

Pick up any financial publication these days and you’ll read that we are entering an age where Artificial Intelligence will increasingly replace human interaction.

Once the domain of government agencies, today the global space landscape is increasingly driven by private organisations pursuing a more entrepreneurial and commercial utilisation of space. We have come to depend on space-enabled technologies, such as satellite-based services, for everyday activities including navigation, telecommunications, weather forecasting, emergency management, banking, mining, agriculture and transportation.

APRA and ASIC have issued coordinated guidance on frontier AI risks, requiring financial services boards to demonstrate direct oversight of AI governance, cyber resilience and third-party dependencies. The regulators' expectations build on existing prudential standards and directors' duties, with enforcement signals indicating that proportionate action must be taken before incidents occur.

Prime Minister Albanese's speech on 15 July 2026 marked a decisive shift in Australia's approach to artificial intelligence, from voluntary guidance to mandatory national regulation. The announcement establishes Australian Standards for AI, copyright licensing requirements, a national planning framework for data centres, energy obligations, and workplace protections—all underpinned by the concept of sovereign AI.

Space-related assets are becoming investable for infrastructure investors, with opportunities in ground stations, mission control assets, data-processing facilities and dual-use platforms. However, investors must carefully evaluate technology refresh risks, regulatory complexities including spectrum and orbital rights, and revenue bankability through counterparty quality rather than relying solely on sector growth projections.