Commodities
Commodities – agricultural products, minerals, metals and energy – are far more important to Australia than they are to most other ‘advanced’ economies. The direction of commodity prices is a key influence on the Australian economy, and (usually) on the Australian dollar.
The Rise of Grain-Fed Beef – and What Comes Next
Commodities, The Australian Economy | 23rd September 2026Saul’s presentation to the Australian Lot Feeders Association (ALFA)’s BeefEx 2026 Conference at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on 23rd September 2026.
Do the Best Days for Australia’s Resources Sector Still Lie Ahead? – the 46th George Fisher Lecture
Commodities, The Australian Economy, The Global Economy | 21st August 2026It was an honour to have been invited to give the 46th Sir George Fisher Lecture to a dinner hosted by the North Queensland Branch of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy in Townsville on 21st August. Sir George Fisher was a giant of the Australian mining industry, in particular as General Manager of […]
The Economic Importance of Tasmania’s Apiary Industry
Commodities, Tasmania | 11th July 2026Saul’s presentation to the Tasmanian Beekeepers’ Association Annual Conference in Launceston on 10th July 2026
Do the Best Days for Australia’s Resources Sector Still Lie Ahead? – Presentation to AusIMM Congress
Commodities, The Australian Economy | 17th October 2025Saul Eslake’s presentation to the 2025 Annual Congress of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, in Brisbane on 17th October. It looks at the contribution of the resources sector to Australia’s economy and government revenues, the impact of the on-going slowdown in the Chinese economy on its demands for Australian minerals and energy exports, […]
Recent Surge in the Gold Price
Commodities, News, Recent Media Interview, The Global Economy | 12th October 2025Saul Eslake spoke with the host of ABC-TV’s “Close of Business” program, Alicia Barry, about the reasons for the recent surge in the gold price to over US$4,000 per ounce
The importance of agriculture to Tasmania’s economy
Commodities, Tasmania | 21st August 2025Agriculture accounts for a significantly larger proportion of economic activity and employment in Tasmania than in any other state or territory. And it’s something that Tasmania is good at: agriculture is one of only five industries where labour productivity in Tasmania is higher than the corresponding national industry average. That’s also reflected in the relatively […]
Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Agriculture
Commodities, The Australian Economy | 1st October 2024Australia’s, and Queensland’s, agriculture sector has a bright future – if it can successfully confront and overcome a series of challenges, some of which are common to farmers everywhere, some of which are unique to Australia or Queensland. Saul’s presentation to AgForce Queensland’s annual Agriculture Industry Conference at the Brisbane Royal International Conention Centre on […]
The Economic Big Picture
Commodities, The Global Economy | 29th May 2018Presentation to the 2018 Resources ‘Rising Stars’ conference on the Gold Coast, Queensland, on 29th May 2018. Looks at trends in the world economy and implications for commodity prices.