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Key facts:

• EV ownership in Australia is concentrated in wealthy metropolitan areas, with average EV-owning households in Local Government Areas earning around $150,000
• Metropolitan areas have approximately four times higher EV penetration (1.52%) compared to rural regions (0.39%)
• The 2023 Fringe Benefits Tax exemption has had limited success in expanding EV adoption beyond high-income households
• EV registrations increased significantly from 79,034 in January 2023 to 259,208 by January 2025
• EV presence has expanded from 40% of Local Government Areas in 2017 to 83% in 2025.

The average Australian EV owner lives in a community earning $150,000 a year — putting them in the top 22 per cent of the country's neighbourhoods by household income.

NIEIR's new analysis of seven years of registration data finds that pattern holding firm — even as EV sales accelerate across the country.

The National Institute of Economic and Industry Research (NIEIR) today released analysis of national motor vehicle registration data showing that EV ownership is growing fast — but wealthier, metropolitan households continue to drive the transition.

“This looks very much like the early trajectory of rooftop solar,” said Brad Vakulcyzk from NIEIR. “Higher-income households move first, costs fall, and the technology gradually reaches everyone. We're watching the same curve play out with EVs — but policy settings will determine how quickly that happens.”

EVs are growing fast — the numbers are striking

Australia's EV fleet more than tripled in two years. National BEV registrations climbed from 79,034 vehicles in January 2023 to 259,208 by January 2025, with buyers adding an estimated further 100,000 vehicles during 2025 alone.

EVs are also reaching more communities. In 2017, only 40 per cent of Australian Local Government Areas recorded any EV registrations. By 2025, 83 per cent did — a sign that adoption is spreading well beyond the early-adopter suburbs.

But city and country still live in different worlds

Spread the numbers across region types and a sharp divide emerges:

City dwellers are four times more likely to own an EV than rural Australians. Sydney leads the pack — Ku-ring-gai, Mosman, Willoughby and Woollahra all record some of the highest EV shares in the country.

Access to home charging, dwelling type and annual kilometres driven all influence who buys an EV. Notably, residents along key public transport corridors show lower uptake — suggesting commute patterns play a bigger role than proximity to cities alone.

Policy is pushing EVs — but not to everyone

The 2023 Fringe Benefits Tax exemption for EVs works primarily through novated lease and salary sacrifice — arrangements that favour higher-income earners. The data shows it hasn't shifted the underlying adoption pattern.

The used car market may do what policy hasn't. Fleet EVs bought under the FBT exemption typically trade within one to five years, gradually feeding a second-hand supply. As prices fall and stock builds, NIEIR expects adoption to reach into regional and middle-income communities.

NIEIR's LEEM (Local Economy and Employment Model) tracks EV adoption alongside economic activity, energy use and emissions across every industry, down to individual Local Government Areas across Australia — making it one of the few datasets capable of mapping exactly where the energy transition is landing, including EV take-up, and what it means for local economies.

The current forecast is being driven by changes in U.S. tariff policy and by the war being waged by the United States and Israel against Iran. 

The Hague, the Netherlands, 18 March 2026 – A football pitch in The Hague is set to become an unexpected source of sustainable energy for the surrounding neighbourhood. In the ‘Moerwijk’ area, the municipality has started installing an underground collector field beneath the artificial grass pitches — a system that will soon provide heat for three primary schools and a childcare centre nearby.

The innovative system captures solar heat absorbed by the artificial turf. Beneath the pitch, a network of water-filled pipes collects this warmth and stores it in the ground. When heat is needed, the stored energy is converted into usable heating for the surrounding buildings.

It marks the first collector field of its kind in The Hague. According to alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Energy Transition), who visited the site this week, the project shows how sports infrastructure can play a broader role in the city’s transition to sustainable energy.

“Sport brings people together, and here it also brings sustainable energy to the neighbourhood,” said Kapteijns. “By using the heat captured under the pitch, we can warm nearby schools and childcare facilities while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.”

Currently, the three schools rely on natural gas for heating. Once connected to the system, their gas consumption is expected to fall by around 75 to 85 per cent. The shift will reduce annual CO₂ emissions by approximately 30,000 kilograms — comparable to the emissions produced by driving about 250,000 kilometres by car.

The collector field offers an additional advantage for athletes. By drawing heat away from the pitch, the artificial grass remains significantly cooler during warm weather, improving playing conditions. The surface temperature can stay around ten degrees lower than conventional artificial turf.

Read the full article on Stories of Purpose: https://storiesofpurpose.thehague.com/impact/three-schools-and-child-care-centre-be-heated-sports-field

Last year

Last year the same sport facility installed next to this sports field a multifunctional field with a cooling down system and water management storage beneath the playing surface. Creating a cooling system in summer and solving flood problems from the past when large volumes of rain could not drain properly. Read the story of last year: https://storiesofpurpose.thehague.com/impact/water-storage-sport-fields-hague-zuidwest

About The Hague & Partners

The Hague & Partners is the official marketing & acquisition organisation for the promotion of The Hague, focused on residents, visitors, conferences, businesses and institutions. https://thehague.com/en

March 18 2026 – China is quietly redefining the AI race – and markets are starting to price a second epicentre, as a multipolar AI world creates “significant opportunities” for investors.

This is the bullish analysis from James Green, regional director of deVere Group with global experience across 18 regulated financial entities, as a huge rally hit markets after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said China's Large Language Model (LLM) OpenClaw is “definitely the next ChatGPT.”

He described it as a foundational shift that expands what individuals can do with AI.

OpenClaw is an AI agent capable of executing real-world tasks such as booking transport and making reservations, marking a clear evolution from passive LLMs to systems that can act.

James Green says this shift represents a structural turning point for investors.

“AI is moving from answering questions to completing transactions. That changes everything.

“The next phase of the AI story is not about intelligence alone; it's about execution, and who controls it.”

Recent market activity underscores the point. Providers of the underlying models powering these agents have surged, while major Chinese tech firms are accelerating integration into consumer ecosystems.

Companies embedding agentic AI into widely used platforms are seeing immediate investor recognition.

The deVere Investment Director notes that this is where the potentially “significant opportunity” lies.

“Every action an AI agent completes, such as booking a ride, ordering food, managing a schedule—creates a potential revenue stream.

“We're looking at the emergence of a new layer of the global economy, where AI platforms act as intermediaries for transactions at scale.”

He adds that investors have yet to fully price in this transformation.

“Markets have focused heavily on model development, but the monetisation sits one layer above.

“The winners are likely to be those who embed AI into everyday user behaviour and control the flow of transactions.”

This dynamic is particularly pronounced in China, where integrated digital ecosystems allow for rapid deployment.

Major tech firms are racing to incorporate agentic AI into messaging, payments, and cloud services, creating tightly connected environments in which users can move seamlessly from intent to execution.

“China's advantage is not just innovation, it's integration,” says James Green.

“The ability to deploy these systems across platforms that already handle payments, communication and services gives companies a powerful edge in capturing value quickly.”

He also points to the implications for global competition.

“We are moving into a multipolar AI landscape, where leadership is shared rather than concentrated.

“For investors, that broadens the opportunity set significantly.”

Despite geopolitical tensions, capital is following functionality.

“Investors are pragmatic. If a platform can generate transactions and scale monetisation, it will attract capital, regardless of geography.”

He emphasises that this is still an early-stage shift, but one with far-reaching consequences.

“Agentic AI is redefining what it means to be a tech company. These firms are becoming brokers of economic activity, not just providers of digital tools.”

James Green concludes: “The next leg of AI-driven market performance will, we expect, be shaped by companies that can convert intelligence into action, and action into revenue.

“This is where the real upside is now likely to emerge.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

March 18 2026 – The Federal Reserve will next cut US interest rates in September, and more likely October, predicts the CEO of one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.

deVere Group's Nigel Green's forecast comes as policymakers hold rates at 3.5% to 3.75% and confront a surge in inflation risks driven by war, energy prices, and persistent economic resilience.

“September, or more likely October, is now the realistic opportunity for a rate cut, and even that is far from guaranteed,” he comments.

“The data coming through is not consistent with easing in July. In fact, it points in the opposite direction.”

He continues: “Inflation is not falling fast enough. The latest wholesale inflation data shows prices rising at 3.4% year-on-year, the strongest pace in a year, and core measures are still running close to 4%.

“And that's before the full impact of the oil shock feeds through.”

The geopolitical backdrop has shifted the policy landscape sharply. Oil prices have surged toward $95–$100 per barrel following the escalation of the Iran conflict, with US gasoline prices climbing to their highest levels since 2023.

“Energy is now the dominant macro driver again,” the deVere CEO explains.

“A near 50% jump in oil prices in a matter of weeks will not stay contained. It feeds directly into transport, production, and consumer prices.

“The Fed knows there's a lag, and that lag is exactly why they will not cut prematurely.”

He adds: “Markets are still behaving as though inflation is under control. It isn't.

“Core inflation is running around 3.1%, and policymakers are now openly considering the risk that it stays closer to 3% even into next year.”

Labour market data reinforces the case for patience rather than urgency. While hiring has softened, the unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.4%, and wage pressures continue to circulate through the economy.

“Employment conditions are not weak enough to justify rate cuts,” says Nigel Green.

“Yes, job creation has slowed and there was a loss of around 92,000 jobs in February, but the broader picture is still one of resilience. Policymakers don't need to step in to support the labour market yet.”

He adds: “A stable labour market removes the justification for easing. It allows the Federal Reserve to focus squarely on inflation, and inflation remains too high.”

Financial conditions also remain looser than policymakers would prefer. Equity markets have held up, credit remains available, and risk appetite has not materially reset despite elevated rates.

“Markets haven't fully absorbed the reality of restrictive policy,” Nigel Green says.

“Investors appear to continue to price in cuts as if they are inevitable and imminent. The reality is that policy is likely to stay tight for longer than expected.”

He argues that the repeated delays in rate-cut expectations reveal a deeper misreading of the macro environment.

“Expectations have shifted from March to June, from June to July, and now beyond,” he notes.

“Each shift isn't random. It reflects the same underlying issue: inflation is sticky, and the economy isn't weakening fast enough.”

The risk environment is also becoming more complex. Rising oil prices are increasing the probability of stagflation, with sustained energy costs capable of lifting inflation while weighing on growth.

“The Fed is facing conflicting pressures, but inflation remains the dominant threat,” says the financial giant's chief executive.

“Cutting rates into an energy-driven inflation cycle would risk repeating past policy mistakes.

“There's even a growing probability in market pricing of further tightening rather than easing in the near term. This tells you how dramatically the outlook has shifted.”

Looking ahead, Nigel Green believes investors must abandon the assumption that rate cuts are just around the corner.

“The real story is not delayed cuts. It's the possibility of no cuts for longer than markets are currently expecting,” he concludes.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 17, 2026 – CloudMile, an established AI and cloud service provider in Asia, made its notable debut at the NVIDIA GTC where CloudMile Founder and CEO Spencer Liu joined a series of premier AI events across the Silicon Valley Bay Area. Spencer delivered a featured keynote addressing the next frontier of intelligence:”From Infrastructure to Intelligence: Crafting Enterprise-Grade Agents”.

Forging the “HALO” Asset: AI with Company DNA

Amidst the “Renaissance” of the AI era, Liu addressed the global shift toward HALO (Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence). He challenged the audience of 2,000 founders and investors to rethink the definition of “heavy assets” in the age of AI.

“In this era, the most valuable asset you can own is not hardware, but a Tailored AI Agent,” said Spencer Liu, Founder and CEO of CloudMile. “Unlike off-the-shelf software that you 'rent,' a tailored agent is a 'Lifetime Digital Employee.' It learns your proprietary data, follows your security protocols, and carries your company’s unique DNA. At CloudMile, we don't just sell tools; we provide the 'foundry' to forge these unbreakable strategic assets.”

Recognized by the governments of Taiwan and Singapore, CloudMile is an accredited Google Cloud Managed Service Provider (MSP) with over 165 certifications. In 2026, CloudMile’s technical leadership was solidified when it was crowned Grand Champion for the Greater China Region (GCR) in the Google-hosted “Agent Build Challenge,” outperforming 117 competitors.

A key pillar of this partnership is CloudMile’s ability to leverage Google Cloud’s generative AI ecosystem, including models from Google Gemini, Gemini Enterprise, and AI development through Vertex AI.

The AEGIS AI Foundry

To facilitate this vision, CloudMile introduced the AEGIS AI Foundry, a comprehensive management platform designed to move AI from “lab experiment” to a strategic “moat.”

Transparency & Security: A “No Black Box” approach with fully auditable logs.
Hybrid AI Deployment: Seamless operation across public, private, and neo-cloud environments.
Modular “Skill” Architecture: Visual orchestration that allows enterprises to build complex, reusable modules for document audits and business logic.
Plug-and-Play Connectivity: Standardized Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration, bridging Google Search, internal databases, and SaaS tools.

The “Taiwan+1” Strategy: Scaling Across APAC

Liu also detailed CloudMile’s “Taiwan+1” strategy, which leverages Taiwan’s status as the world’s AI hardware foundry and adds the critical layer of Application and Agent Development. This strategy anchors CloudMile’s leadership across North and Southeast Asia, supported by dual headquarters in Taiwan and Singapore.

CloudMile’s technical dominance was recently cemented as the Greater China Region Champion in the Google Cloud Agent Build Challenge. The company is also recognized as a certified AI Technical Service Provider by Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs and a Strategic Partner under Singapore’s Budget 2025 Enterprise AI Initiative.

Building the Future of Enterprise AI

As an official stop on the “Road to SuperAI,” the AI+ Renaissance conference serves as the global stage for the next generation of AI breakthroughs. CloudMile’s participation reinforces its position as the certified partner for AI builders in Asia, combining Google Cloud’s advanced models with deep professional expertise in data and security.

About CloudMile Group

CloudMile Group is a leading AI technology group in Asia, integrating core capabilities in AI, Security, and FinOps. It provides comprehensive solutions spanning data governance, cloud operational efficiency, and security resilience, helping enterprises accelerate transformation in the AI-driven era. As a multinational group focused on talent development and innovation, it offers customized services through its technical brand, CloudMile, and its strategic consultancy brand, Electrum. Dual-headquartered in Taiwan and Singapore, CloudMile serves over 1,400 enterprises across Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

For more information, please visit https://cloudmile.ai/tw

19 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has awarded Bristow Norway AS a contract for helicopter services in Bergen, Norway.

The agreement covers two S‑92 helicopters that will provide offshore transport services from Flesland Airport. The contract will commence on 1 May, with a duration of one year and options for extension for a further two one‑year periods. The estimated contract value is approximately NOK 1.1 billion.

“This is an important agreement that strengthens our helicopter capacity. We have already entered into agreements with CHC and Lufttransport in Bergen and this gives us solid capacity at our largest helicopter base,” says Mette Ottøy, senior vice president of Joint Operations Support at Equinor.

Equinor operates approximately 5,000 helicopter flights per year from Bergen Airport, Flesland.

Bristow currently has an agreement with Equinor for five helicopters in Bergen, which expires on 30 April. Under the new contract, two of the existing helicopters will be continued, ensuring good continuity for both personnel and operations.

From 1 May, three operators with a total of seven helicopters will provide offshore transport services from Bergen Airport, Flesland, as CHC and Lufttransport also commence their new contracts.

Fields served by Equinor from Bergen Airport, Flesland

• Troll field: Troll A, B and C
• Gullfaks field: Gullfaks A, B and C
• Statfjord: Statfjord A, B and C
• Oseberg field: Oseberg A, B and D
• Martin Linge
• Kvitebjørn / Valemon

Operators providing offshore transport services for Equinor from Bergen Airport, Flesland, from 1 May

Operator: Bristow Norway AS

Helicopter type: Sikorsky S‑92
Number of helicopters: 2
Planned start-up: 1 May 2026
Duration: 1 year + 2 × 1‑year options

Operator: CHC Helicopter Service

Helicopter type: Sikorsky S‑92
Number of helicopters: 3
Planned start-up: 1 May 2026
Duration: 2 years and 8 months + 2 × 1‑year options

Operator: Lufttransport RW AS

Helicopter type: AW139 (to be replaced by AW189 in 2027)
Number of helicopters: 2
Planned start-up: 1 May 2026
Duration: 2 years and 8 months + 2 × 1‑year options.

Early detection of cancer, a disease that continues to represent a significant global health burden, remains one of the most critical factors in improving survival outcomes. In response, healthcare systems are increasingly focusing on strengthening diagnostic pathways and adopting advanced clinical tools to support more efficient evaluation and management of patients at risk. Against this backdrop, the digital health market in Australia is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% through 2035, forecasts GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform.

GlobalData’s analysis reveals that Australia accounted for 2% of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) digital health market in 2025. Despite this relatively small share, the country’s contribution is expected to expand as healthcare providers are adopting emerging technologies alongside the existing digital solutions, supporting the growth of the Australian digital health sector.

Optellum has recently received regulatory clearance from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia for its AI-enabled Virtual Nodule Clinic, a digital health platform developed to support clinicians in assessing pulmonary nodules and aiding in the early detection of possible lung cancer. This authorization allows healthcare providers across Australia to integrate the software-based clinical decision support tool into their routine diagnostic and patient management processes.

Shamreen Parween, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The incidence of cancer in Australia is increasing due to a range of contributing factors, highlighting the growing need for effective and timely diagnostic approaches alongside the existing healthcare infrastructure. In this context, initiatives by the Australian Government to promote the adoption of accessible and cost-effective medical technologies may play an important role in improving treatment outcomes and enhancing survival rates among patients.”

Optellum has already received FDA approval and CE marking in European countries and has now secured TGA approval in Australia. This approval supports an artificial intelligence (AI) model that helps predict whether lung cancer is malignant. The software, which is built into the system, reviews chest CT images where lung nodules have been detected. Based on the calculated result, the experts determine the next steps for further treatment. Such assessments may contribute to earlier identification and management of lung cancer, potentially supporting improved outcomes for patients.

Parween concludes: “The development of digital healthcare and the increasing integration of technology-driven solutions across clinical environments are likely to support improvements in disease diagnosis and treatment, while gradually strengthening Australia’s position within the broader Asia-Pacific digital health market.”

Notes

Quotes provided by Shamreen Parween, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData

About GlobalData

GlobalData Plc (LSE:DATA) operates an intelligence platform that empowers leaders to act decisively in a world of complexity and change. By uniting proprietary data, human expertise, and purpose-built AI into a single, connected platform, we help organizations see what is coming, move faster, and lead with confidence. Our solutions are used by over 5,000 organizations across the world’s largest industries, providing tailored intelligence that supports strategic planning, innovation, risk management, and sustainable growth.

18 MARCH 2026 – Equinor has made an oil discovery that will be tied into the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea.

Grete Birgitte Haaland, area director for Exploration and Production North at Equinor

The discovery was made in the “Polynya Tubåen” prospect (7220/7-5). The well was drilled by the COSL Prospector rig. The preliminary volume estimate is between 14 and 24 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents.

– With Johan Castberg, we opened a new oil province in the Barents Sea one year ago. It is encouraging that we are now making new discoveries in the area. We plan to drill one to two exploration wells annually in this region going forward to increase the resource base and maintain plateau production for a longer period, says Grete Birgitte Haaland, area director for Exploration and Production North at Equinor.

The volume basis in Johan Castberg was originally estimated at 500–700 million barrels, and Equinor has an ambition to increase this by an additional 200–500 million barrels.

In June 2025, an oil discovery called “Drivis Tubåen” was made in the Castberg area, estimated at 13–20 million barrels in the Drivis structure.

Last week marked the start of construction for the development of Isflak, the first discovery to be tied into Johan Castberg. Aker Solutions in Sandnessjøen is building a well frame for two new wells that will be connected to existing subsea facilities.

Facts

• The Johan Castberg field is located in the Barents Sea, 220 kilometres northwest of Hammerfest.
• Partnership in Johan Castberg is Equinor Energy AS (operator) 46.3%, Vår Energi ASA 30%, Petoro AS 23.7%
• The first discovery in the Johan Castberg field was made in 2011.
• Production started on March 31, 2025.

The Commonwealth Bank has responded to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash rate increase.

Tuesday, 17 March 2026 – Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to increase the official cash rate by 0.25% per annum (p.a.), CBA will increase rates by 0.25% p.a. on eligible variable-rate business loans.

The rate change will apply to CBA Business Bank’s Variable Base Rate, Commercial Variable Base Rate, Residential Equity Rate, Commercial Residential Equity Rate, Overdraft Reference Rate, and Commercial Overdraft Reference Rate, flowing through to eligible variable-rate business lending products including BetterBusiness Loans and Business Overdrafts. These changes will be effective 27 March 2026.

CBA Group Executive Business Banking, Mike Vacy-Lyle, said the Bank remains focused on supporting customers through the current economic environment.

“We know any rate increase can put added pressure on business owners. Our priority is to support customers through this period, and our teams are here to help businesses find the support that’s right for them. We encourage any customer who needs help or wants to explore their options to contact our dedicated Business Financial Assistance team.”

Support for business customers

CBA offers a wide range of tools and programs to support business customers at every stage of their business journey. This includes:

• Free comprehensive cash flow tracking capabilities via a Business Cash Flow tool in the CommBank app. 
• Bill Sense to help customers predict future bills and CommBank’s business insights tool called Daily IQ. 
• CommBank Business Masterclass modules help upskill businesses in the areas of AI and cashflow with more modules to come. 
• Eligible business customers can also benefit from discounts and special offers available via CommBank Yello for Business, the bank’s customer rewards and recognition program. 
• A range of financial support options are available for business customers experiencing difficulty, including deferred business loan repayments or debt restructuring. 

More information is available on our website and businesses seeking support can speak to their Relationship Manager or call CBA’s dedicated Business Financial Assistance team, available 24/7, on 13 26 07.