The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, Treasurer of Australia, today launched the 2026 Intergenerational Report at The Australian National University (ANU) as part of the Australia and the World Annual Lecture series, revealing the latest projections for what Australia could look like in 2066.
Held at the recently restored University House, the event brought together members of the ANU community and distinguished guests to hear from the Treasurer on the findings of the seventh report.
The lecture was moderated by Professor Mark Kenny, Director of the Australian Studies Institute (AuSI) at ANU.
The Intergenerational Report projects the outlook for Australia’s economy and the Australian Government’s budget over the next 40 years. It examines the long-term sustainability of current policies and how demographic, technological and other structural trends may affect the economy and the budget.
The Report identifies five key transitions that are expected to transform Australia’s economy: the AI revolution, transition to renewable energy, an ageing and slowing population, increasing geopolitical fragmentation, and Australia’s evolving industrial base.
Dr Chalmers spoke about the nation’s intergenerational opportunities and challenges ahead.
“We are better placed, better prepared and have a better plan than most countries to deal with what’s coming at us and what’s ahead of us,” he said.
“We’ve taken some very substantial political risks in order to meet our intergenerational obligations and responsibilities.”
The technological revolution was a key focus of the Report, with rapid improvement in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities representing the biggest observable shift since the 2023 Report.
“AI is the most transformative technology that we will see. This transformative technology will influence every part of our society and every part of our economy in the decades to come,” said Dr Chalmers.
ANU Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Rebekah Brown welcomed the opportunity to consider where Australia is today and where we are heading.
“ANU has long been a place where scholars, policymakers, diplomats, parliamentarians, and students come together to exchange ideas,” said Professor Brown.
“That speaks to the larger purpose of the Intergenerational Report: the Australia we are building for those who come after us.
“Before his address, the Treasurer met with a group of our students, and the 40-year horizon this report contemplates is not some distant future for them. It's within their lifetime. Our students will help make the decisions that shape what Australia looks like into the future.”
Dr Chalmers has served as Treasurer since May 2022 and is an ANU alumnus, having completed a PhD in political science and international relations at ANU and taught politics and public policy.
Watch
You can watch the public lecture in full on the ANUTV YouTube channel.
Listen
The Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP also joined Professor Mark Kenny and Dr Liz Allen on the Democracy Sausage podcast to unpack the 2026 Intergenerational Report.
