WA Establishes 2 Hour Strategic Diesel Reserve
Western Australia announced a strategic diesel reserve, signing a deal with Cambridge Gulf Ltd. to purchase and store 4 million liters of diesel, enough for roughly two hours of the state’s daily consumption of 25 million liters. The initial stock is slated to arrive within weeks, with the option to expand the reserve to 12 million liters. Officials say the reserve will cushion acute shortages, though critics question whether the volume is sufficient for meaningful energy security.
Gojeerah Takaichi Cometh to Destroy Gas Tax
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is set to visit Australia amid a surge in Asia‑wide energy diplomacy. Japan relies on Australian LNG for 40% of its power generation and holds roughly $39 bn USD in equity across 13 LNG projects, while...
Unemployment Climbs
Australian labour market data released by Roy Morgan shows total unemployment and under‑employment combined at 3.4 million in March 2026. Real unemployment fell by 28,000 to 1.693 million, representing 10.5 % of the workforce, a 0.1 percentage‑point decline. Under‑employment also slipped, dropping 205,000 to...
Australia’s Diesel Problem Is Bigger than You Think
Australia is the world’s most diesel‑dependent economy, using 7.7 barrels per person in 2024 – about 80% more than the United States and eight times China’s level. The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) reports diesel makes up roughly 9% of...
Greens Celebrate the NDIS Economy
Federal Greens leader Larissa Waters warned on X that cutting the National Disability Insurance Scheme would be "bad economics." She referenced a Per Capita think‑tank report that each Australian dollar spent on the NDIS generates $2.25 in economic output. The...
Labour Market Holds Together in March
Australia’s wage growth held steady in March 2026, according to CommBank Wage Insights. Quarterly wages rose 0.8%, keeping annual growth at 3.1% across a sample of about 400,000 employee accounts. The rate has plateaued at 3.1‑3.2% since mid‑2025 despite global...
Aussie Consumer Sentiment Crashes
Westpac’s consumer sentiment index fell to 80 in April, the lowest reading since the COVID‑19 pandemic began. The drop reflects a sharp rise in fuel prices and heightened inflation concerns among households. Near‑term expectations have slipped back to the 2022‑23...
The Surprising Upside of Expensive Fuel: Less Traffic
Rising fuel prices in Australia, spurred by the Middle East conflict, have sharply cut road traffic in Melbourne and Sydney. Government data shows a measurable decline in vehicle volumes on major corridors. Higher‑income commuters, less sensitive to fuel costs, benefit...
Aussie Gas Hippopotomus Plugs the Tax Pipe
Australian Labor backbenchers are urging Treasurer Jim Chalmers to raise taxes on gas exporters as voter anger over resource profits grows. Resources Minister Madeleine King defended the existing tax regime, citing billions of dollars of private investment in LNG projects....
Six Weeks to No Fuel at All
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively shut since late February, and the last tanker that cleared the waterway on February 28 is expected to arrive around April 20, ending the flow of pre‑closure oil stocks. Once those inventories are exhausted, global...
President Trump’s ‘Psychological Evaluation’
The article argues that the psychology of national leaders, especially Donald Trump, is a decisive factor in shaping geopolitical outcomes. It places Trump’s behavior within a historical tradition where leaders’ mental make‑up has steered wars, alliances, and economic shifts. By...
New Data Shows How the 5% Deposit Scheme Inflated Home Prices
Australian ABS data shows first‑time buyer mortgages hit AUD 19.31 billion (≈ US$12.7 billion) in the Dec 2025 quarter, a 16% rise from the prior quarter and the strongest level since Q1 2021. The average loan size also jumped 8.3% to AUD 607,500 (≈ US$401,000), a record high....
Australia Bends Asia over LNG Barrel
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to expand domestic gas production but stopped short of ruling out higher taxes on LNG exports in the upcoming May budget. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that rising Australian energy costs could...
Soaring Renewable Transmission Costs to Pressure Power Bills
Australian renewable transmission cost estimates have exploded. AEMO’s 2020 projection of $8.5 billion (≈$5.6 billion USD) for new lines in NSW and Victoria is now seen as $120 billion (≈$79 billion USD) and could exceed $200 billion (≈$132 billion USD). Adding wind and solar generation adds...
Iron Ore Waits on the War
Iron ore markets are in a holding pattern as improving peace prospects in the Gulf reduce geopolitical risk, but the broader ferrous complex remains weak. Steel prices have resumed their decline, reflecting lingering demand concerns. Port inventories have risen to...
