Energy policy and regulation in Australia
Policy and regulation for energy generators, networks, retailers, gas producers, renewables developers and large energy users. Below are the official items from the last 14 days that we rated high or medium for Energy, each linked to its official source.
What we match to Energy
We rate each item for Energy. Items on these subjects, among others, are matched to this sector:
- Energy and climate
- Resources, mining and gas
- Sustainability reporting and ESG
- Environment, packaging and recycling
Official items from the last 14 days
As at 2:50 am on 21 Oct 2026 (Sydney time), 25 official items from the last 14 days are rated high or medium for Energy.
Strong flow of gas-fired power proposals in Central Queensland (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Queensland Government's Central Queensland gas tender, managed by Queensland Investment Corporation, received indicative proposals from all 10 qualified proponents representing more than 4GW of potential gas-fired generation capacity. Four proponents—AGL, ANZA Power, APA Group and Quinbrook—have been shortlisted to progress to the next phase. The tender seeks 400MW of additional gas-fired generation capacity in Central Queensland by 2032.
(c) State of Queensland. Source: statements.qld.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Safeguard Mechanism review (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Productivity Commission submitted a review of the Safeguard Mechanism on 17 September 2026, published 19 October 2026. The submission considers how the mechanism can support Australia's emissions reduction objectives while maintaining market-based foundations. It supports preserving flexible compliance arrangements, broadening scheme coverage over time, and introducing a border carbon adjustment for cement and clinker alongside removing overlapping trade-exposed assistance.
Source: Productivity Commission
Hazelwood Battery Expansion Boosts Gippsland Energy Jobs (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) Copyright State Government of Victoria
AER publishes draft decision to grant ring-fencing exemptions for AGN's hydrogen trial projects (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: AER (c) Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Have your say on Transgrid's cost pass through application (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: AER (c) Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Have your say on ElectraNet's cost pass through application (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: AER (c) Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Amendments to compensation methodology to accommodate single DUID hybrid systems (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
AEMO publishes draft 2027 GPSRR Approach Paper for consultation (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
New Reserve Conditions Dashboard now available (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
ARENA seeks local and global solar innovators for $250 million solar manufacturing round (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) launched Round 3 of the Solar Sunshot program with up to $250 million to support manufacture and scale-up of solar technologies in Australia. The round is open to Australian and international companies seeking to establish, expand or demonstrate manufacturing and product development. Round 3 focuses on commercial-scale manufacture of solar balance of plant and deployment technologies including racking, tracking systems, robotics and automation. Expressions of interest will open on 2 November 2026.
Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency (arena.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU
Yurringa Energy Pty Ltd – granted electricity retailer authorisation (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: AER (c) Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Commerce Regulations Amendment (Electricity and Gas Standards) Regulations 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Sourced from the Western Australian Legislation website at 20 October 2026. For the latest information on Western Australian legislation, visit www.legislation.wa.gov.au.
Australian-made solar robots move towards commercial scale with $31.1 million in ARENA funding (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing up to $31.1 million under Round 2 of the Solar Sunshot Program to establish solar robotics manufacturing facilities in Melbourne and Brisbane. Luminous Robotics will receive up to $17.8 million to manufacture autonomous solar panel installation robots (LUMIs) in Melbourne, targeting around 100 robots by 2029. Built Robotics Australia will receive up to $13.3 million to establish a Brisbane hub for autonomous piling systems, manufacturing and deploying 12 robotic piling systems. The projects aim to improve productivity, reduce construction costs and ease workforce constraints in large-scale solar farm construction.
Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency (arena.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU
Security Enablement Procedures consultation now open (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
New products now available for Product Guarantee of Origin (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryLegislation has been enacted to expand the Product Guarantee of Origin scheme. Producers, exporters and consumers can now apply for hydrogen produced via solid gasification, pyrolysis or gas reforming, iron ore, aluminium, biogas from anaerobic digestion, and biomethane from biogas upgrading. The scheme previously covered hydrogen from electrolysis. Additional products including low-carbon liquid fuels, green metals and ammonia are intended to be added as the scheme develops.
Licensed from the Clean Energy Regulator, Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
AER consults on additional discussion paper for the 2026 Rate of Return Instrument (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: AER (c) Commonwealth of Australia. CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
Japanese giant opens doors at new Queensland hydrogen facility (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryJapanese energy company ENEOS officially opened its new $200 million green hydrogen demonstration facility at Bulwer Island in Brisbane. The facility is expected to support more than 100 specialist jobs in Queensland across the project's life. The investment resulted from the Crisafulli Government's trade mission to Japan in 2024 and was backed by the Japanese Government. The facility will test production and transportation of green hydrogen for international markets using a liquid carrier, with a portion of production intended for Japan.
(c) State of Queensland. Source: statements.qld.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0
APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) Commonwealth of Australia. Source: ministers.treasury.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Marinus Link To Power More Jobs In The Latrobe Valley (opens the official source in a new tab)
(c) Copyright State Government of Victoria
First meeting between UK Chancellor Healey and Australian Treasurer Chalmers (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryUK Chancellor John Healey and Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers met on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings and G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. This was their first in-person engagement since Healey's appointment. The ministers agreed to enhance cooperation on economic security including energy, fuel, critical minerals and critical technology including AI, and to maximise benefits of the Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement. They also agreed to explore closer coordination between strategic financing agencies.
(c) Commonwealth of Australia. Source: ministers.treasury.gov.au, licensed under CC BY 4.0
Statement regarding Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryDarren Miller, CEO of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), announced on 15 October 2026 that he will not seek a fourth term when his current term ends in August 2027. Miller has led ARENA since 2018 and noted the agency now manages more than $14 billion in funding. ARENA Chair Marianna O'Gorman thanked Miller for his service and stated she will continue working with him until the end of his term.
Source: Australian Renewable Energy Agency (arena.gov.au), licensed under CC BY 2.5 AU
Explore the Q3 2026 QCMR data workbook (opens the official source in a new tab)
AI summaryThe Clean Energy Regulator has released the Q3 2026 Quarterly Carbon Market Report data workbook. The full QCMR with analysis and insights is expected by mid-December 2026. The data workbook is published early to provide information to Australian carbon markets ahead of the full report, which will include additional data and charts when released.
Licensed from the Clean Energy Regulator, Commonwealth of Australia under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
NEM – Congestion Information Resource (CIR) and Network Outage Scheduler (NOS) statistics update and invitation for feedback (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
NEM – Publication of report for system security (energy) directions in South Australia between 15 January 2026 and 16 January 2026 (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)
NEM – Updates to Load Tables for Type 7 Metering Installations (opens the official source in a new tab)
Source: Australian Energy Market Operator (aemo.com.au)