Australia

Australia’s new social media ban for under-16s, effective December 11th, has led tech giants like Meta to remove hundreds of thousands of accounts. Meta supports industry collaboration for safety enhancements over broad bans, proposing solutions like Age Keys. Concerns remain about a “whack-a-mole” effect, with teens finding workarounds. The ban, framed by the government as protecting children’s mental health amidst growing global concerns, faces challenges, including a legal bid from Reddit.

Reddit has filed a High Court challenge against Australia’s new ban that blocks anyone under 16 from ten major platforms, arguing the law infringes the implied freedom of political communication and is ineffective. The legislation forces platforms to implement intrusive age‑verification methods, which Reddit says could isolate teens from political discourse and harm its forum‑style service, distinct from typical social networks. The case highlights broader concerns over privacy‑preserving youth protection, potential business impacts from reduced engagement, and could set a precedent for global regulation of online political speech.

Australia has become the first nation to ban users under 16 from major social‑media platforms, enforcing age‑verification tools such as selfies, IDs or bank links on services like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and X. The move, backed by 77 % of the public, aims to protect youths from cyberbullying and mental‑health harms, but faces criticism over free‑speech, privacy and enforcement flaws, with many teens already circumventing the ban. The policy sets a global benchmark, prompting similar discussions in Europe, Asia and Oceania as regulators seek stronger digital‑child protections.

Landis+Gyr has secured a Grid Edge Intelligence contract with PLUS ES in Australia to modernize the electricity grid. This partnership will deploy advanced grid edge meters with wireless technology, providing real-time data and actionable insights for retailers and consumers. The solution supports consumer engagement with cleaner energy resources and enables AI-driven grid management, aligning with Australian energy market reforms. The technology includes edge sensing meters, an open ecosystem for third-party apps, and AI-ready infrastructure. This deployment will modernize the grid and facilitate the adoption of AI at the edge.

FTI Consulting has appointed Steven Casey as Senior Managing Director in its Economic Consulting segment in Australia. Based in Sydney, Casey brings nearly 20 years of experience advising governments, regulators, and executives. He specializes in public policy, economics, regulatory reform, and public investment strategy, leveraging data & AI. Casey will support clients facing fiscal challenges and enhance FTI’s economics platform in the Asia-Pacific region. Previously, Casey held leadership roles at Quantium Telstra and KPMG Australia, also serving as a senior advisor to Commonwealth ministers.

Woodside’s Scarborough Energy Project has overcome its final Commonwealth environmental hurdle with the Federal Court upholding NOPSEMA’s approval of the Scarborough Operations Environment Plan. This allows Woodside to proceed with connecting and operating the Scarborough floating production unit. CEO Meg O’Neill emphasized the project’s economic benefits and role in providing low-carbon LNG to Asian markets and bolstering domestic gas supply. The project, 86% complete as of June 30, 2025, is expected to produce 8 million tonnes of LNG per year and contribute to Western Australia’s domestic gas supply. First LNG cargo is anticipated in H2 2026.

Pacific Green Technologies (PGTK) secured a 10-year agreement with ZEN Energy for 1.5GWh of battery storage across three Australian states. This expands PGTK’s Australian project portfolio to 7GWh, building on an existing 500MWh agreement. The partnership aims to support ZEN’s commercial and industrial clients and manage energy transition volatility. CEO’s from Pacific Green and Zen highlight the strategic importance of storage and the partnership’s role in enabling them to support sustainability goals.

Gilmour Space’s inaugural launch of the Eris rocket in Australia failed on July 29th, 14 seconds after liftoff. Despite the explosion, the company considers the test a step towards launch capability, citing successful engine burn and data acquisition. The launch was Australia’s first attempt to design and launch a rocket indigenously, aiming to validate the Eris’s design for future commercial launches. Gilmour Space, founded in 2015, intends to establish Australia in the global space sector with the two-stage, small satellite launch vehicle.

XCF Global and Continual Renewable Ventures Pty. Ltd. signed a non-binding MOU to launch New Rise Australia, a platform for SAF and HVO production. The potential agreement includes an equity stake and license fees, leveraging XCF’s technology for the Australian market. This partnership supports XCF’s international expansion, with definitive agreements expected.