Policy and Regulation

The ACCC will examine regional mobile coverage across Australia and whether regulating wholesale access to some mobile services would improve customer outcomes, as part of a new inquiry.

Clive Palmer has lost another legal battle over Western Australian legislation shielding the state from the fallout of a decision barring a proposed Pilbara iron ore project, with a Swiss court rejecting his challenge to a tribunal's finding that it had no jurisdiction to hear the $300 billion dispute.

Energy minister Chris Bowen has warned the federal government will legislate if necessary to prevent states from competing for data centres, after announcing plans last month to roll out a national AI framework to govern the booming area.

ASIC has found that customers have not been receiving the promised benefits of mortgage offset accounts and have been unknowingly paying more interest than they should have, with banks already paying out $55 million in compensation.

Three-storey housing should be allowed in most suburbs, the Productivity Commission has recommended in a report that finds existing housing regulations have stymied new developments.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese has revealed plans for a new federal court specialising in workplace disputes, saying the current system is too slow and expensive.

The Allan Government has unveiled plans that would make it easier to sue AI and social media companies over harms to children, while also announcing a crackdown on the use of AI and employee surveillance in the workplace.

The federal government plans to introduce a digital duty of care for artificial intelligence companies as part of five AI safety priories that form part of its national strategy to regulate the new technology. 

The Property Council has called on the federal government to abandon proposed discretionary trust tax changes, arguing the reforms would undermine efforts to meet Australia's 2029 housing targets.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group has won the Australian Energy Regulator's approval for a proposed $213 million expansion of Victoria's South West pipeline, which will help address projected peak-day gas shortfalls from 2029.