Our Scans · Australia · Weekly Summary

• [New] Australia needs A$ 630 billion in transition investment to meet its 2035 climate targets. Investor Group on Climate Change
• [New] News over the weekend that Australia expects significant cost savings by buying a third secondhand American nuclear submarine for the Aukus program, instead of at least one brand new model, is also likely to feature heavily in estimates when the defence department gets up. The Guardian
• [New] The Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries confirmed key milestones continue to be met for Submarine Rotational Force-West and announced the finalization of necessary arrangements for the establishment of SRF-West in 2027. / Australia GOV.UK
• [New] Turkey, with the support of Australia, which is co-president of Cop 31, has proposed setting a target of 35% of final energy to come from electricity by 2035. The Guardian
• [New] Rio Tinto operates 73 driverless trucks across four iron ore mines in Australia specifically to reduce worker exposure to danger. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Germany and Australia intend to cooperate more closely on cybersecurity, protection against hybrid threats, resilient supply chains and reforms of the United Nations. Fazit Communication GmbH
• [New] Berlin - Germany and Australia plan to deepen their cooperation on security. Fazit Communication GmbH
• [New] Combined wheat production in the United States and Australia is projected to be more than 20 MMT below last year's output. Ag Bull Trading
• [New] Based on Australian Institute of Digital Health, the number of smartphone users in Australia will grow by 3.7 million to 23.6 million by the year 2026. IMARC Group
• [New] Following Malaysia, more jurisdictions will adopt under-16 frameworks citing Australia, hardening age assurance into a global compliance baseline for consumer platforms. Tech Insider
• [New] Electronic Frontiers Australia has gone further on the adult-content rules, contending that mandatory hard verification effectively forces a surrender of anonymity, a core privacy principle, and could lead to a chilling effect on legitimate adult content consumption. Tech Insider
• [New] Climate change would amplify the effects on Australia, including the risk of extreme heat and bushfires. The Guardian
• [New] El Nino events are linked with extreme weather around the world and, for Australia, can increase the risk of bushfires and coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef. The Guardian
• [New] The Australian Marine Conservation Society fears the mainland arrival of H5 bird flu could pose a real extinction risk for the endangered Australian sea lion, with only 12,000 remaining along the coasts of South Australia and WA. The Guardian
• [New] From risk-based monitoring requirements in the EU and Australia to new scrutiny of AI-driven compliance tools and crypto ecosystems, the common theme emerges: regulators increasingly expect firms to demonstrate proactive, effective controls that can adapt to evolving threats and technologies. FinScan
• [New] Australia has a dedicated digital inclusion sector with some terrific opportunities to build from, including the federal government's foundational progress in First Nations digital inclusion, formed around a clear goal and advisory group. Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance
• [New] We can see that much of south-east and eastern Australia is forecast to see some rainfall, with the focus initially being across South Australia, western Queensland, western New South Wales and through Victoria. Mirage News
• [New] Australia will now receive three second-hand Virginia-class, nuclear-powered submarines in the coming years, instead of the original deal of two used vessels and one brand new sub. UNSW Sites
• [New] For several years, doubts have been raised in strategic circles, as well as by US and Australian politicians, as to whether the US shipbuilding sector has the capacity to construct Virginia-class submarines that could be transferred to Australia. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] To meet climate targets, Australia must slash emissions by 71% by 2035. Positive News
• [New] The higher 2026-2027 coking coal assumptions reflect higher year-to-date prices and reduced supply due to disruptions in Australia and a mining accident in China, while demand from steelmakers remains robust. petromindo
• [New] In Australia, workplace safety regulators are placing increased scrutiny on psychosocial risks arising from organisational changes and restructuring, particularly where consultation and risk planning fall short. Lewis Silkin

Last updated: 23 June 2026