AGP Executive Report

Gas policy pressure: Australian Energy Producers chair Cecile Wake says the government’s gas reservation plan “fails to meet supply goals”, warning the 20% domestic quarantine could cut investment confidence and even create a surplus that drives prices down. Food security: A mouse plague response is moving fast, with an emergency permit allowing limited use of double-strength zinc phosphide bait to protect crops as farmers face Iran-war cost pressure and El Niño risk. Health system spotlight: Six GPs and a medical student are heading to Tasmania Parliament for politician “health checks” ahead of the state budget, pushing for changes that remove payroll-tax barriers to training more GPs. Ebola watch: Health Minister Mark Butler says Australia’s risk is still low, but border screening could tighten if the outbreak spreads. Business and tech: TechnologyOne reports a 6% profit rise and reaffirms guidance, citing AI product momentum. Sport & culture: Joe Ingles returns to the NBL with Melbourne United; WA appoints Aaron Hardie as Sheffield Shield captain; and Journey Beyond lands an Indian Pacific-themed garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Rare Earth Squeeze: Treasurer Jim Chalmers has ordered six China-linked shareholders to divest from Northern Minerals, forcing exits within 14 days as Australia tightens control of heavy rare earths tied to magnets for EVs and defence. Energy Transition Push: Kumul Petroleum says PNG has plenty of gas but “short of time” in the shift to renewables, and is now chasing commercial development for smaller discoveries alongside LNG. Coal Deal Shuffle: Anglo American has agreed to sell its Australian steelmaking coal mines to Dhilmar for up to $3.88bn, continuing its exit from steelmaking coal ahead of a Teck merger. Housing Pressure Forecast: New University of Sydney modelling warns climate-driven insurance and rent rises could double homelessness even in lower-emissions scenarios, with fossil-fuel futures worse. Regional Health Boost: Construction has started on Mount Gambier’s new medical school training centre, doubling student numbers from 60 to 120 a year. Solar Supply Momentum: JA Solar hits a 1GW DeepBlue 5.0 partnership milestone in Australia, signalling faster rollout of its next-gen modules.

Markets & Inflation: Australia’s sharemarket slid to a 1½-month low as commodities dragged and oil jumped, reviving inflation worries while the Iran situation stays tense. Tesla Courtroom Clash: A judge in Australia warned Tesla it could face “a really bad time” after slow document sharing in a class action involving claims around driving features and battery range. Protest Fallout: South Australia’s premier hit back after a park-lands group post allegedly encouraged people to find and leak his home address. Banking Pressure: Banks are holding back part of recent RBA rate rises on savings accounts to protect margins. Housing Squeeze: A new focus on “middle” renters highlights how the budget may not deliver quick relief for people stuck between renting and owning. Security & Health: Islamic State urged followers to use Bondi Beach as an “instruction manual,” while WHO declared an Ebola emergency in the DRC. Sport: Eddie Nketia ran 9.74s for 100m in the US—fastest by an Australian ever, but not record-legal due to wind. Business: Ora Banda doubled key gold resources at its Davyhurst project, lifting ore reserves sharply.

Defence Diplomacy: Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles met Jordan’s King Abdullah in Amman, with both sides pushing deeper military and security cooperation and urging stronger international efforts to keep the US-Iran ceasefire sustainable. Drug Intercepts: Nigeria’s NDLEA says it seized cocaine and opioids hidden in cartons of clothes bound for the UK and Australia, while also destroying tens of thousands of kilograms of skunk in Delta State raids. Safety Shock: A 38-year-old spearfishing diver, Steven Mattaboni, died after a great white shark attack off Rottnest Island, prompting fresh calls for caution in the Geordie Bay area. Energy Grid Strain: Renewable capacity is growing faster than networks can coordinate it, with operators warning the real bottleneck is real-time operational control at the grid edge. Politics & Housing: Australians reacted angrily to Albanese’s claim that 45 Melbourne social and affordable homes are ready after nine months. Transport Disruption: Qantas diverted a Melbourne-to-Dallas flight to Papeete after a passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant, triggering a no-fly ban.

Energy Tech Deal: ClearVue is teaming with China’s LandVac in Hong Kong to make solar “power-generating glass” for building facades, pitching big cuts to energy use as geopolitics keep oil volatile. Trade Fight: Australia could face billions in damages if an international tribunal rules its Darwin Port lease push breached a free-trade deal with Landbridge. Housing Tax Pressure: Labor’s CGT and negative-gearing changes are being sold as a path to more first-home buyers, but the Housing Minister won’t promise young buyers won’t end up in “negative equity.” Citizenship Clash: Opposition leader Angus Taylor says permanent residents would pay a “price” under a Coalition plan that ties benefits and NDIS access to citizenship. Eurovision Shock: Delta Goodrem’s “Eclipse” still couldn’t land the win—Bulgaria took first, with Australia finishing fourth. Sport & Culture: Ocean Sleeper locked in a global deal with Rise Records/BMG, while NBA House Australia brought Baker Boy to Melbourne. Safety Watch: A 38-year-old died after a great white shark attack near Rottnest Island.

Shark Attack Shock: A 38-year-old spearfishing diver has died after a great white bite off Rottnest Island near Perth, the second fatal shark attack in Australia this year, with police saying the man couldn’t be revived after being taken ashore. Beach Safety Push: In NSW, Surf Life Saving is rolling out shark-bite trauma kits to 129 beaches, aiming to cut response time when seconds matter. Eurovision Fallout: Tonight’s Eurovision grand final in Vienna is set against an unprecedented boycott over Israel’s participation, while Australia’s Delta Goodrem heads in as a top contender after a semi-final surge and a sold-out Europe/UK tour. Hantavirus Quarantine: Six passengers from the MV Hondius have arrived in Perth for a quarantine expected to last at least three weeks, as health authorities ramp up controls. Sport Focus: Indian women’s hockey captain Salima Tete says fitness and pressure-handling are the plan ahead of Australia matches, while triathlete Matt Hauser starts his title defence with back-to-back gold in Japan.

Eurovision Buzz: Delta Goodrem is back in the spotlight in Vienna, staging “Eclipse” for the second semi-final with a piano-lift moment that’s already got people talking—and she’s now through to the grand final. Why Australia Competes: It’s not geography—it’s broadcaster membership. The ABC has aired Eurovision since 1983, and the EBU granted Australia special permission to join in 2015. Hantavirus Quarantine: Six people evacuated from the Netherlands after the MV Hondius outbreak have been moved into a three-week quarantine near Perth, with two pilots choosing to isolate too. Indigenous Budget Push: The federal budget backs remote jobs and health, plus a decade-long plan to end violence against Indigenous women and children. Fuel Relief Uncertainty: Albanese says Australia’s petrol and diesel stocks are now higher than before the Iran war, but an extension to the excise cut is still “under assessment” ahead of July 1. Legal Clash Over Gender: Australia’s court upheld a trans woman’s discrimination win against women-only app Giggle, doubling damages. Consumer Watchdog: The ACCC is investigating retailers over potentially misleading Black Friday “urgency” tactics. Older Australians Hit: Advocates warn cuts to private health insurance rebates could push more pressure onto public hospitals.

Eurovision Momentum: Delta Goodrem’s “Eclipse” has Australia surging into the grand final spotlight, with betting markets now putting us second behind Finland after rehearsal buzz and jury momentum. Hantavirus Quarantine: Six passengers from the MV Hondius arrived in Perth for a strict three-week isolation after negative tests, as Australia ramps up border health controls. Hate Laws Crackdown: Australia has banned a neo-Nazi network under new hate-group legislation, with penalties up to 15 years and a clear message that rebranding won’t help. Courtroom Shock: A federal court doubled damages in a landmark transgender discrimination case involving the Giggle for Girls app. Fuel Pressure: Diesel supply remains tight as Middle East disruption strains refined-product flows, keeping prices and logistics on edge. Public Safety: A serious Queensland bus crash killed one tourist and left ten in hospital, with consular help confirmed for affected foreign nationals.

Eurovision Buzz: Delta Goodrem has booked Australia’s place in the 2026 grand final after a standout “Eclipse” semi-final in Vienna, turning late-night hype into a full-blown national obsession. Health Alert: The Northern Territory has recorded Australia’s first reported diphtheria death in almost a decade, with cases concentrated in remote areas and most patients Indigenous. Energy Security: The federal government has secured three extra diesel shipments (900,000 barrels) to keep fuel flowing to South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and Victoria amid Middle East-driven price pressure. Politics & Migration: A new poll puts Pauline Hanson’s One Nation on top nationally, while skilled-migration supporters argue overseas workers fill shortages rather than displace locals. Sport & Culture: Sam Kerr confirms she’s leaving Chelsea after six-plus seasons, and Bryce Cotton prepares for his Boomers debut in Perth for FIBA qualifiers.

Cyclone insurance bill: Australia’s cyclone reinsurance pool says 2025/26 losses total about A$267m from nine tropical cyclones, with no single “main” event—just complex, scattered damage patterns, and Cyclone Narelle the biggest hit at A$113m. Road safety: A coach crash on Queensland’s Bruce Highway near Gumlu killed one and injured at least a dozen passengers. Eurovision buzz: Australia’s Delta Goodrem is set for Semi-Final 2 in Vienna as the contest ramps up. Deep-sea science: Curtin-led research off WA’s Ningaloo coast found signs of giant squid and other deep-ocean species, using DNA traces from seawater. Politics & migration: The Coalition’s budget reply doubles down on big migration cuts and welfare conditions for citizenship, while One Nation’s Farrer by-election win keeps immigration and culture front and centre. Security cooperation: Australia backed Philippine air surveillance training during Balikatan, sharing radar deployment and sustainment know-how.

Supermarket crackdown: Australia’s Federal Court has ruled Coles misled shoppers with “Down Down” discounts by lifting prices and then advertising cuts that weren’t genuine, landing another blow in the ACCC’s push against fake specials. Cost-of-living pressure: The same week also brought fresh alarm over rents being unaffordable for many households, while Australians are cutting back on petrol and travel as rate hikes bite. Politics and welfare: Opposition Leader Angus Taylor says a Coalition government would restrict welfare payments to Australian citizens, with NDIS access limited to citizens (with grandfathering). Health and quarantine: Australia is preparing to repatriate hantavirus cruise passengers, with a plane and crew secured for Perth quarantine at a purpose-built facility. Brand fallout: Plans for a $1.1b Trump-branded Gold Coast tower have been scrapped after the developer said the Trump name became “toxic.” Sports and culture: Bryce Cotton is set for a Boomers debut in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, and Tim Cahill is being floated for a top Football Australia men’s role.

Housing & markets: Australia’s budget housing shake-up is hitting the big banks hard, with Westpac dragging the NZX lower and Commonwealth Bank of Australia flagged for its biggest one-day drop as investors reprice negative gearing and capital gains changes. Tax reform: Jim Chalmers’ package moves investors back toward an inflation-based discount and ends negative gearing for new investors, while tightening discretionary trust taxation—aimed at making the system “fairer,” but leaving plenty of young buyers asking if it’s enough. Trump Tower fallout: Altus has scrapped the $1.1bn, 91-storey Trump Tower on the Gold Coast after just three months, blaming the “toxic” Trump brand and the Iran war; the Trump Organization counters that Altus failed to meet obligations. Defence & shipping: Australia will join a “strictly defensive” UK-France mission for Hormuz, sending a Wedgetail E-7A. Sport & health: Eddie Jones is banned for four Japan games for verbal abuse; and Australian researchers report an AI system that can flag heart disease years early from bone scans.

Middle East Shipping Security: Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia will send its E-7A Wedgetail spy plane to support a UK- and France-led, strictly defensive mission to keep ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s actions have battered global energy flows. Terror Risk Update: Australia has tightened its Smartraveller warning for the Philippines, flagging a “very high” terrorism threat—especially across most of Mindanao—while noting wider risks linked to the Middle East. Budget Fallout for Travel: The federal budget lifts the passenger movement charge from $70 to $80, sparking outrage from tourism operators and warning of higher costs for Australians and visitors. Sport Integrity & Health: Sports Integrity Australia issues fresh warnings on peptides ahead of the Enhanced Games, stressing they’re not “harmless” and can carry serious long-term risks. Cricket World Cup: Alyssa Healy’s retirement clears the way for Sophie Molineux to lead Australia at the T20 Women’s World Cup, with Lucy Hamilton selected and Darcie Brown omitted. Cyber Ransom Update: Canvas learning platform’s parent Instructure says it reached an agreement with the hackers and that stolen data was returned.

Defence Tragedy: The ADF has paused all parachuting training after an SAS Regiment soldier died in a mid-air collision during advanced jumps at Jervis Bay; investigations will follow. Indigenous Rights: Fortescue has been ordered to pay a record A$150m to the Yindjibarndi people for cultural loss after mining blocked access to more than 135 sq km without permission. Royal Commission Fallout: New survey findings to the antisemitism inquiry say about 80% of Jewish women in Australia have faced antisemitism or seen it directed at family, with many reporting fear and retreat from public life. Budget Shockwaves: Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ 2026-27 budget pushes “fairer” housing tax settings—negative gearing limited to new builds and the 50% CGT discount replaced with inflation indexation—while also flagging a possible Middle East oil-price nightmare scenario. Housing vs Health: Disability advocates warn the NDIS cuts will hit young people hardest, while health groups say access and out-of-pocket costs remain the real test. Cricket Power Struggle: Cricket Australia’s BBL privatisation talks stay tense as players weigh pay gaps and states disagree on selling club stakes.

Hantavirus Repatriation: Six passengers from the MV Hondius outbreak have arrived in the Netherlands and are “in good health”, with officials aiming to finalise flights home within 48 hours before moving them straight to Perth quarantine. Budget Shock: Housing and tax reform is back in the spotlight as the government prepares to target negative gearing and the 50% capital gains discount—after admitting the system isn’t working for many Australians and that anxiety is feeding One Nation. Markets: ASX futures point slightly higher, but Monday’s slide still stings after CSL plunged 16% on impairments and weaker outlook. Regional Power Moves: South Australia becomes the first Australian destination in the Michelin Guide, while Australia delivers medical supplies to remote PNG provinces. Pacific Diplomacy: Vanuatu’s cabinet approves an updated Nakamal Agreement with Australia, with wording still unclear as China’s competing Namele deal hangs over talks. Defence Tragedy: A parachuting training collision at Jervis Bay Airfield has killed one soldier and injured another. Business Tech: Xero’s outages sparked a personal apology from the CEO after days of disruption for accountants and small firms.

Hantavirus Fallout: Australia’s hantavirus cruise evacuees are now being rerouted via the Netherlands before a Perth quarantine at Bullsbrook Centre for National Resilience, with officials stressing a precautionary approach despite rare human-to-human spread. Cricket Shake-up: Australia has named a new-look white-ball squad for Pakistan and Bangladesh, with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc rested for IPL workloads; teen Ollie Peake earns his first senior call-up, while Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are left out. Indigenous Renewables: ACEN’s Yindjibarndi-led Jinbi solar project in WA has reached financial close and is moving straight into construction under a long-term PPA with Rio Tinto. Politics Watch: One Nation’s Farrer by-election win keeps the pressure on Australia’s major parties, signalling a possible “Reform-style” insurgency mood. Sport & Culture: Mal Anderson has died at 91, and Guy Sebastian’s father-son duet with Archie is going viral.