Queensland’s 2026–27 State Budget channels new funding into critical minerals projects while coal royalties continue to deliver billions in revenue to state finances. Measures include fresh support for the 1,100km CopperString transmission project linking the North West Minerals Province to the grid, alongside targeted critical minerals funding intended to accelerate copper, rare earths and battery metals developments. A review of the Financial Provisioning Scheme is also flagged, signalling potential changes to how mine rehabilitation securities and long‑term environmental liabilities are structured.

Standard contracts body JCT has appointed Michelmores partner Anna Wood as chair of its drafting sub-committee, succeeding Clyde & Co partner Victoria Peckett, who steps down in July 2026 after 18 years in the role. Wood leads Michelmores’ construction team and advises developers, employers, contractors and consultants on contentious and non-contentious UK projects, including complex built environment disputes. Her leadership will shape future updates to the JCT suite of standard form construction contracts, directly affecting risk allocation, payment, and dispute mechanisms on UK infrastructure and building schemes.

ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certification is increasingly being used as a hard gate in UK infrastructure PQQs, with major utilities and Tier 1 contractors rejecting otherwise qualified bidders lacking accredited management systems. Pre-Qualification Questionnaires now commonly demand UKAS-backed certificates covering quality, environmental and health and safety processes, not just policy statements or past performance. SMEs in civil engineering and specialist groundworks risk being locked out of framework agreements unless they formalise procedures, document risk controls and undergo external audits well before tender stages.