Disciplined continuity: The forces driving Australian business
Mallesons' Directions Report 2026 is your essential guide to what’s top of mind for Australian directors and senior business leaders.
Now in its 16th year, the report reveals an overriding mood of gritty and disciplined continuity. Faced with persistent cost pressures, rapid technological change and an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment, Australian businesses are determined to keep investing and pursuing growth.
Yet beneath that resilience lies a growing sense of unease. Business leaders are increasingly concerned that Australia's policy settings, regulatory framework and reform agenda are failing to support the investment, innovation and efficiency gains needed to lift productivity and living standards.
The result is a clear message from Australian business: productivity is now the defining challenge. From AI adoption and disciplined capital allocation to advocating for regulatory reform and navigating geopolitical risks, organisations are striving to unlock the next phase of growth and prosperity.
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Key findings include:
- Australian businesses are getting on with it, remaining committed to growth and investment despite softer optimism and ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
- Productivity has emerged as the defining business challenge, sitting at the centre of strategic decision-making and shaping priorities across investment, technology and organisational transformation.
- There is no AI 'sugar hit': while AI has become the top priority for business, many organisations are still working to convert significant investment into tangible productivity gains and measurable returns.
- The relationship between business and government is becoming more strained, as leaders call for policy settings that better support investment, innovation, competitiveness and productivity growth.
- Geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping business strategy, creating an opportunity for Australian businesses to build trust and act as commercially grounded diplomats in an increasingly fractured world.
Explore this year’s key findings:
Compared to 12 months ago, what is your organisation's attitude towards pursuing growth opportunities and risk-taking over the next 6-12 months?
Which of the following best describes your organisation’s investment strategy over the next 12 months?
Which statement best describes your organisation's approach to funding investment in relation to AI platforms, technology and infrastructure?
What statement best describes your organisation's strategic ambition of AI?
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2.36MB, 17 Pages
