Private business investment also jumped by 6 per cent in the March quarter, driven by a 30-year-high increase in machinery and equipment, much of which is used to build data centres.

Business investment growth hit 6.5 per cent in the March quarter – a rate last seen in the mining boom – far exceeding expectations of about 1 per cent.

The Australian sharemarket powered ahead after weaker-than-expected GDP growth boosted optimism for an interest rate reprieve from the Reserve Bank.