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The $80bn in dividends showered on shareholders in Australian companies over the past financial year was up five per cent. But the deluge is unlikely to be repeated in the 2025 financial year, CommSec says, due to weaker conditions for energy, consumer discretionary and real estate companies.

Meanwhile, the boss of one of Australia's largest employers, Rob Scott from Wesfarmers, has backed the RBA, saying the central bank is on track to beat inflation as he called on the Labor government to overhaul the economy, especially to improve housing affordability.

And the Australian Financial Security Authority has warned that personal insolvencies will surge this financial year , especially among renters, as households dig into their savings to pay debts amid an expected increase in the unemployment rate as the economy grinds to a halt.