One of Australia’s leading economists, KPMG’s Terry Rawnsley, will headline The Urban Developer Property and Economic Outlook Series.
This series will be staged next month in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
An award-winning expert in planning and infrastructure economics, Rawnsley has built a reputation for helping developers and governments understand the economic and demographic trends shaping property markets.
Drawing on his extensive experience, Rawnsley will deliver a keynote address exploring the global forces and local dynamics driving Australia’s property sector in 2025, from inflation and interest rates to housing demand and urban development challenges.
We spoke to Rawnsley in the leadup to the series to learn something of his early predictions for the year ahead.
Rawnsley highlighted the challenges facing the global economy in 2025, including the potential impact of policies by incoming US President Donald Trump.
“There is economic uncertainty for the global economy heading into 2025,” Rawnsley said.
“The policies proposed by President-elect Trump on the election trail sound inflationary in nature; however, what is actually implemented won’t be clear until after January 20.
“[If] a range of economic policies implemented lead to increased price levels for traded goods globally ... the pathway for interest rate cuts in Australia could be more challenging.”
Rawnsley also pointed to China as a critical variable, with any changes in demand for Australia’s commodity exports adding complexity to economic forecasting.
Rawnsley said that inflation was showing signs of easing but emphasised the importance of upcoming economic data.
“The data up to the end of 2024 was still suggesting that the RBA could start cutting interest rates in the first half of 2025,” he said.
While the futures market has priced in multiple rate cuts over the next two years, Rawnsley warned of the uncertainties surrounding these predictions.
“Property professionals should keep a close eye on inflation and interest rates during 2025,” he said.
Rawnsley highlighted the transformative role of infrastructure projects such as the Sydney Metro in reshaping urban living and development.
“The opening of the Sydney Metro has really captured people’s imagination and is likely getting people to rethink how they travel across the city and even where they might live in the future,” he said.
He pointed to Melbourne’s coming Metro lines as another example, suggesting they will open significant development opportunities in areas such as the Arden Precinct in North Melbourne.
Rawnsley said the impact of planning reforms introduced in 2024 would continue to be felt and considered by the property market for some time to come.
“The impact of planning changes during 2024 in Sydney, such as the TOD program, and Melbourne, the activity centre changes, will continue to be better understood by the market over the next 12 to 18 months,” he said.
Rawnsley also noted the persistent challenge of housing affordability, saying that governments will remain focused on the issues throughout 2025.
“The ongoing challenges of housing availability and affordability are unlikely to diminish anytime soon,” he said.
Rawnsley will present exclusive economic forecasts for Australia’s property market in 2025 in each city. Following the keynote, developers and industry leaders will join a panel to discuss growth opportunities, challenges and investment strategies for the coming year.
Tickets are limited for this series—act fast and secure your ticket.
Brisbane | Thursday 13 February
