The economy is continuing to grow on the back of stronger exports which are offsetting weak growth in domestic demand.
Gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast to have risen to 0.7 per cent in the March quarter, taking it to 2.7 per cent for the 12 months to March, according to an AAP survey of 13 economists.
That's below the nation's long-term trend rate of 3.2 per cent.
However, it would be better than the December quarter's 0.6 per cent rise.
"This would be a solid headline result, although growth in the quarter looks to have been driven largely by net exports, while domestic demand remains soft," ANZ head of Australian economics Felicity Emmett said in a statement.
A key growth driver was likely to be an uptick in commodity exports, especially iron ore and non-monetary gold.
Services exports including tourism and education were also quite strong in the quarter.
Household consumption was forecast to have boosted GDP growth on the back of a further decline in the household savings ratio and the strength of services consumption.
JP Morgan chief economist Sally Auld pointed out that residential investment also remained upbeat in the March quarter.
"The data to hand suggest the central themes in Australia's GDP growth mix from 2015 have carried over to 2016," she said in a statement.
"Household consumption and net trade started 2016 on a firm footing, and are expected to deliver the lion's share of growth in the first quarter."
National Australia Bank economists said the pattern of growth was consistent with the Reserve Bank's views on non-mining activity and was unlikely to significantly influence the central bank's bias on interest rates.
"We do acknowledge a further rate cut remains a possibility if inflation continues to surprise to the low side," they said.
"With activity indicators positive, NAB does not expect any consideration of further easing before the next CPI release (released July 27).
First quarter forecasts
AAP: 0.9 per cent
AMP Capital: 0.7 per cent
ANZ: 0.8 per cent
Commonwealth Bank: 0.6 per cent
HSBC: 0.5 per cent
JP Morgan: 0.7 per cent
Macquarie Group: 0.6 per cent
NAB: 0.8 per cent
RBC Capital: 0.6 per cent
St George: 0.7 per cent
TD Securities: 0.8 per cent
UBS: 0.7 per cent
Westpac: 0.6 per cent
Median forecast: 0.7 per cent
Source: AAP survey
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