As we wrap up the financial year, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank is proud to support local business confidence and provide financial insights – including through our sponsorship of the upcoming New Financial Year Breakfast hosted by the Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce on 8 July. Guest speaker and Bendigo Bank Chief Economist David Robertson will share his national and regional outlook for the year ahead, including some promising signs for local businesses.
Robertson expects the 2025/26 financial year to remain shaped by global uncertainty and tight household budgets, but says there’s reason for optimism. With inflation easing and the Reserve Bank tipped to continue cutting the cash rate (potentially one per quarter), Australians could see more breathing room in their budgets – and businesses may benefit from a gradual lift in consumer spending and improvements in the jobs market.
Here in regional Queensland, Robertson expects strong continued performance.
“Regional centres like Mackay, Isaac and the Whitsundays have been outperforming the cities across jobs, property and growth – and that’s likely to continue,” he said. His advice to small business owners? Stay informed, look for efficiencies and be ready to adapt – especially as technology (such as AI) continues to evolve and the economy begins to regain momentum.
To find out more about David Robertson’s insights for the year ahead, make sure to book in for his Mackay region events.
Tickets for the Mackay breakfast on 8 July are selling fast via the Mackay Chamber website. If you miss out, Robertson will also speak in Proserpine on 11 July, with tickets available via the Whitsunday Chamber site.
Bendigo Bank Chief Economist David Robertson