Private new capital expenditure on equipment, plant, and machinery in Australia surged by 18.1% qoq in the first quarter of 2026, sharply rebounding from a downwardly revised 1.3% decline in the previous quarter. This was the strongest quarterly growth since March 1996, driven predominantly by non‑mining business investment, which rose 8.8% (vs 1.3% in Q4 2025), while mining-related equipment spending was broadly unchanged (0% vs -0.9%).
The information media and telecommunications industry recorded the largest increase, jumping 96.1% to a new record high. “The lift in investment was the result of investment in data centre equipment, specifically server racks and processing equipment, significantly boosting overall investment figures,” said Tom Lay, Head of Business Statistics at the ABS.
On an annual basis, investment in equipment, plant, and machinery climbed 31%, the fastest pace since December 1994 and an acceleration from an upwardly revised 9.8% increase in the previous period.
