Senior infrastructure and civil engineering leaders say they would work with a Reform UK government in Westminster to secure a pipeline of “investable” major projects, signalling industry willingness to engage regardless of political uncertainty. Commentators point to the need for clear long-term funding models for schemes such as multi-billion-pound rail upgrades and strategic road corridors, plus faster Development Consent Order decisions. For contractors and consultants, the key issues would be visibility of a 5–10 year capital programme and how Reform UK treats existing commitments like HS2 enabling works and major flood defences.

Australia’s 2026–27 Federal Budget is drawing support from the mining sector for measures to bolster fuel security, including backing for domestic refining and storage that reduces exposure to imported diesel and marine fuels. Industry groups are also welcoming commitments to streamline project approvals, with a focus on faster environmental permitting and clearer timelines for major resources projects. Exploration companies, however, are pressing for stronger direct incentives such as expanded flow-through shares or targeted tax credits to sustain greenfields drilling.

A new performance evaluation under the Net Zero Carbon Building Standard now lets buildings that are not yet fully compliant benchmark operational and embodied carbon using the same metrics as aligned assets. The framework standardises reporting of whole-life carbon, enabling consistent comparison of energy use, material emissions and retrofit performance across mixed portfolios. For engineers, this supports more granular targeting of fabric upgrades, services optimisation and low‑carbon materials, while still working within existing design, occupancy and budget constraints.