Politics News

Labor has pledged $400 million to rewrite bus routes across Melbourne's fast-growing western suburbs, ahead of the state election on November 28. Under the proposal, about two thirds of existing routes would become 'turn-up-and-go' services, with a bus every 10 minutes, seven days a week. Labor would also add routes linking to train stations, addressing a long-running complaint that some schoolchildren face half-hour walks to the nearest stop.

Greens and One Nation spoke at a Mannum rally last weekend against a Melbourne developer's data centre bid near Tungkillo, about 40km east of Adelaide. Quantum DC has yet to lodge its planning application, and Premier Peter Malinauskas said of the project, 'they haven't even applied.' The state government has drafted laws imposing tougher energy and water requirements on data centres, with the premier saying 'if they're not in our interests, they're not happening.

Queensland Water Minister Ann Leahy told the ABC that a proposed $32 billion data centre could help drive investment west of Brisbane. Developer Zerra DC says each of its four proposed buildings would require 21,000 litres of water per day, sourced from rainwater and recycled water from coal-seam gas projects. Leahy said the federal government had "constrained" water access, pointing to the $3.4 billion Nathan Dam as an option.

On 6 November 2026, renewables' share of NSW's power grid fell to the lowest among Australia's states and territories for the first time. The Minns government is struggling to roll out several massive wind projects needed to limit the state's dependence on coal. Green investment in Australia's biggest state economy has slumped, unlike Queensland, where renewables construction has boomed despite the Crisafulli government scrapping green energy targets and coal closure dates.

Treasury is drafting options to scale back the government's $7 billion home battery scheme as it hunts for spending cuts before the mid-year budget update. The scheme has subsidised more than 600,000 systems since it came into effect in July 2025, but its immense popularity has repeatedly blown out the government's cost estimates. Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who has taken to social media to defend the popular rebates, is set for a showdown with Treasury.