DBrief Podcast by Australian Industry Group
DBrief, the Australian Industry Group podcast, is for business operators keen to understand the connection between their own enterprise and the broader issues of industry development and policy and new government regulations.
Via an engaging and informal interview format, DBrief investigates:
• what is happening in industry policy, and what it means;
• where these issues are going and what you need to know and
• what you need to think about and learn in order to stay abreast of — or even ahead of — emerging issues and developments.
Tune in to stay ahead of changes and market movements and be better prepared for digitalisation, decarbonisation and diversification in your business and market sector.
Episodes
47 episodes
The packaging challenge: turning waste into resource — with Simon Dowding from Pact Group
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 di...
The AI opportunity: building trust, capability and competitive advantage
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.
Training talent and attracting skills - where will Australia’s workers come from?
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, i...
Inside the tax debate - Capital gains, investment and economic impact
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...
From button batteries to Quantum - the role of standards in modern industry
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 A...
What the Budget does and doesn’t deliver: progress since the 2025 productivity roundtable
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.&...
Biofuels, fuel security and what ethanol could do for Australia
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...
The deeper supply chain impacts of the Iran conflict
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 ...
What the Strategic Examination of Research and Development Means for Industry, Innovation and Productivity
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...
How the Iran conflict is rippling through Australia’s fuel market and supply chains
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....
What industry wants from South Australia and Victoria in an election year
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...
Inside Australia’s 2026 Industry Outlook: costs, tech investment and regulatory pressure
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 tec...
DBrief Summer Series: starting small, scaling smart — AI lessons from two Australian icons
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 F...
DBrief Summer Series: Executing AI in complex settings
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 environ...
DBrief Summer Series: Getting Started - The AI Adoption Challenge for Industry
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. Ri...
2025 in Review — The big challenges, the shifts underway, and the road ahead
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 t...
AI at Work - Unlocking Efficiency in Customer Service and Steelmaking
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, h...
COP30 Climate Talks in Brazil: Key Issues and Insights
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 COP3...
Fixing Australia’s innovation puzzle: Why our R&D system needs a rethink
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-gene...
Navigating Tariffs and Supply Chain Turbulence
In this episode, Louise McGrath and Dr Jeffrey Wilson unpack a new report by the Australian Industry Group titled Trade, Tariffs and ...
Market Lens — Australia's Fragmented Frontiers & Regional Insights
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 trad...
The Economic Impact of Barcodes with Marcel Sieira, Chief Operating Officer, GS1 Australia
The Economic Impact of BarcodesIn 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. T...
2035 Emission Targets - Special Episode
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 se...
Breaking Barriers: Gender, Innovation, and the Future of Australian Industry
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 narrative...
DBrief: Episode 22, August 2025
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 r...