The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says the Australian economy growth outlook as improved, but Oz faces "significant risks and uncertainties" in 2017.

The primary concerns are Australia's housing market and slowing economies among Australia's main trading partners, including China.  The IMF expects 2017's real GDP growth to come in at 2.6 percent; that increases to 3 percent in 2018 and 2019; but the world money guys foresee it slowing down to 2.9 percent in 2020 and the subsequent years after.  To do this, Oz will have to get serious about supporting non-mining sectors to fuel this growth, and proactive policies to deal with increasing protectionism in other nations.

Good news is foreseen on the employment front:  IMF forecasters say Australia's unemployment rate will gradually fall over the next five years, from 5.7 percent in 2017 to 5.1 percent in 2022.