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West Australian
11 hours ago
- West Australian
Lanna Hill: Beyond the perky LinkedIn posts, business are struggling
The breakfast functions are back, and the panels are packed. LinkedIn is humming with job posts, announcements, appointments, and those 'thrilled', 'honoured', 'grateful' posts. From the outside, it looks like business is booming again. Back in March, CCIWA reported business confidence at its highest in three years. Beneath the polished surface, a different picture is starting to emerge — one that doesn't quite match the momentum we're performing. In reality, many teams are stretched thin, and external budgets are stalling. Proposals hang in inboxes for weeks with no response — not because they weren't good, but because a fear of commitment (and ghosting) has become real in the business world, too. July data backs this up, with 70 per cent of WA businesses citing rising costs as their top growth barrier. What we're seeing is something I'd like to call performative recovery. The external signals are strong — especially here in WA, where mining royalties and infrastructure investment paint a confident picture — but scratch the surface, and you'll find a quiet hesitation that's shaping everything from hiring to marketing spend. London-based ad giant WPP's tumbling share price this week is one of many examples of the ever-changing environment we're in. Some of this is actually very important. Business and political leaders need to show strength. Perception matters: to clients, to competitors, to staff. So we lean into language that sounds like progress, even when we're still in a holding pattern. It would seem it's partly because the rules have changed. The post-COVID economy never fully reset. We're no longer in crisis mode (depending largely on the increasingly unpredictable geopolitical landscape, which swings wildly from week to week), but we're not in true growth mode either. There's a sense of suspended motion — like we're all waiting for someone else to blink first. At the same time, the cost of doing business has risen across the board. Wages, insurance, software, compliance, professional services — everything's gone up. But few companies have raised prices fast enough to match it. And in service-based businesses, that squeeze is especially brutal. The same team is expected to do more, with less margin, and still show up looking energised and engaged. And then there's the fatigue. The kind you can't see in a quarterly report. Mid-sized firms, especially those led by owner-operators or lean leadership teams, are running low on buffer — not just financial, but emotional. I've spoken to so many capable, ambitious people lately who are quietly questioning whether this version of success is sustainable. For those taking them, holidays aren't just holidays anymore. They're an essential tactic to stave off burnout. So no — not everything is back. But that's not a failure. It's just the reality of a business culture that's been white knuckling its way through economic uncertainty, policy shifts, and relentless change. The danger is in pretending otherwise. Because when the external narrative says 'we're thriving,' but the internal systems are strained and the team is flatlining, it's easy to feel like you're the only one who hasn't caught up. That disconnect breeds shame. It also stops leaders from asking for the support, advice or clarity they actually need. We don't need more hype. We need more honesty. If we want to build businesses that actually last — not just look good on LinkedIn — we'll have to make space for truth alongside optimism. And that starts with calling the bubble what it is. Lanna Hill is the founder and director of Leverage Media Group.
The Advertiser
11 hours ago
- The Advertiser
PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia. The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China. Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister. The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting. Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas. After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings. But tensions remain fraught. China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra. A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted. The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship. Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds. Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts. "We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday. But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links. China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined. The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank. Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley. This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities. The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy. "We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said. "But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement." Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion. "Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson. "For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain." Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology. Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations. On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
