The Economic Perspective 5 September 2025

The Latest Trending Economic News Curated for You by Balmoral Group Australia

Good morning, dear readers,

Firstly, the Treasury released its 2025-26 Corporate Plan last week, introducing new measures for performance assessment concerning housing supply. Measure 7 aims to alleviate housing supply constraints, setting a yearly target of 8,000 housing projects to be supported by the Housing Australia Future Fund over five years. Access the corporate plan here.

This week, we have a diverse spread of articles. Political tension surfaces in the Pacific as some Island nations draw up plans for deep-sea mining with corporate partners, inciting resistance and a call for cessation amongst nations concerned with environmental impacts. In environmental law news, the Australian government has issued statements about “no-go zones” where development is prohibited in favour of biodiversity conservation. This follows the recent fast-tracking of planned environmental law reforms.

Australia has also partnered with Germany to provide Australian renewable hydrogen producers with access to European markets, thereby bridging the gap between production costs and sales prices. Spain has tightened emissions reporting and ramped up renewable energy investment, suggesting a strong future position in the energy sector. 

If you like to watch the seasons from space, don't miss the 12-second video on this edition. 

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Hope you enjoy the articles and have a great weekend!

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Murray Watt backs ‘no-go’ zones where development is banned – but not for Tasmania’s Robbins Island 

Recent plans to fast-track Australia’s environmental law reform (namely the EPBC Act) have been followed by statements supporting the concept of “no-go zones” – protected regions where development is prohibited. This will fast-track approval decisions and grant businesses certainty whilst protecting biodiversity. However, plans for a Tasmanian Windfarm have highlighted the need for scientific consultation when designating “no-go zones”. Read more here.

Australia and Germany strengthen hydrogen ties under H2Global 

A new €400 million joint tender, funded equally by the Australian and German governments, aims to give Australian renewable hydrogen suppliers access to European markets by bridging the gap between high production costs and sales price. The scheme, delivered by Hintco, involves a double sided auction: supply-side auctions will award the most competitive Australian suppliers ‘Hydrogen Purchase Agreements’ (HPAs), and demand-side auctions will award ‘Short-Term Hydrogen Sales Agreements’ (HSAs) to German buyers at the highest price. Read more here.

Spain Makes Carbon Reporting Mandatory in New Climate Emergency Plan 

Following devastating wildfires, Spain has introduced their Climate Emergency Plan, mandating carbon reporting for businesses on Scope 1 and 2 (direct and indirect) greenhouse gas emissions and establishing a new State Agency for Civil Protection and Emergencies. Spain has also significantly boosted its renewable energy investments in solar hydrogen electrolysers, and expects renewables to reach 81% of power generation by 2030. Read more here.

The Pacific’s united front on climate action is splintering over deep-sea mining 

Some Pacific Island nations have begun to pursue deep-sea mining as a new revenue stream, with others in opposition. While the International Seabed Authority hasn’t yet decided on rules for extraction, Nauru, the Cook Islands, Kiribati, and Tongan governments have begun issuing exploration permits to corporate partners to search underwater plains, mounts, and hydrothermal vents for valuable mineral deposits. Nations such as Palua, Fiji, and Vanuatu have called for a cessation, as mining can cast sediment plumes which smother delicate deep-sea ecosystems. Read more here.

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See Earth's seasons in all their complexity in a new animated map 

This video from CSIRO depicts the timing of global average ‘phenocycles’, the cycles of seasonal plant growth which vary across region and with environmental conditions. Patterns are determined by applying new analysis techniques to 20 years of satellite imagery, revealing asynchronous “hotspots” which peak in growth later than surrounding regions. Read more details here.

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