Coal policy clash: NSW’s Hunter Valley Operations (Yancoal/Glencore) is seeking a two-decade extension for the Singleton mine to 2045, with hearings starting Thursday and climate groups arguing exported coal returns to Australia as pollution. Housing market shift: Auction activity is sliding as demand cools—auctions fell from 45% of new listings in Nov 2025 to just over 30% in June, with sellers increasingly choosing private sales amid rate hikes and tax changes. Renewables row: Australia’s Smart Energy Council is pushing back on “waste-to-energy”, calling it dirty and not renewable, and criticising funding that should go to solar and wind. AI regulation push: Prime Minister Albanese says Australia will draft AI laws and set new rules for data centres, including requirements for operators to fund extra power and transmission, while critics warn approvals could be paused until guardrails land. Modern slavery crackdown: The government will create a new criminal offence and civil penalties for large firms that don’t prevent modern slavery in global supply chains. Rare earth geopolitics: Canberra has moved to restrict voting rights of China-linked investors in Northern Minerals after earlier divestment orders, raising concerns about investment credibility. Business finance: ClearScore reports full-year profit more than doubling, citing efficiency gains and continued AI/product investment.