Australia's economy has shrugged off a sluggish start to the year, boosted by government and consumer spending with the nation extending its record run of growth.
Economic growth for the second-quarter was 0.8%, after 0.3% in the three months from January to March, to take the annual rate of expansion to 1.8%, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said.
"Today's national accounts for the June quarter reveal solid and more balanced growth for our economy," Treasurer Scott Morrison said.
"It confirms the emerging national economic consensus of the better-days-ahead outlook that I referred to in this year's budget," he added.
The stronger reading came after the economy marked a world-record 26 years without a recession, despite growth slowing at the beginning of the year with the impact of category four Cyclone Debbie on eastern Australia.
The Australian dollar slipped slightly below 80 US cents after the data release, with investors disappointed that the latest GDP reading was marginally softer than some analysts' estimates.
Today's figures showed that household spending rose by 0.7% and government expenditure by 1.2%, while exports of goods and services increased by 2.7% during the three month period.
The Australian economy has charted a rocky path as it transitions away from an unprecedented mining boom, with the Reserve Bank of Australia cutting interest rates to a record-low of 1.5%.
Earlier this week, the central bank kept rates on hold at 1.5% for the 13th month in a row, but signalled optimism about recent improvements in the economy.
They include a strengthening jobs market, business conditions and sales.
"Growth in the number of Australians with jobs has picked up over recent months and the unemployment rate has come down a bit," RBA governor Philip Lowe said.
"The investment outlook has also brightened. Inflation has troughed and it is likely to increase gradually over the next couple of years. These are positive developments," he added.
The RBA has been cautious about lifting rates despite the improvements, with concerns that high levels of household debt and strong property prices could make Australians vulnerable to rising borrowing costs.
