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.

Canada’s mining sector generated C$111 billion of GDP in 2024 and C$152 billion in mineral exports (21% of all merchandise exports), yet the Mining Association of Canada is warning that slow project approvals and uncompetitive fiscal terms are eroding the country’s position amid volatile, trade-restricted critical mineral markets. MAC is urging Ottawa to accelerate federal impact assessments and permitting, improve federal‑provincial coordination, and expand northern geoscience and resource assessments. It also wants broader Canadian Exploration Expense eligibility, tax credits for brownfield expansions, and rapid implementation of 2025 budget measures such as clean technology credits and accelerated capital cost allowances.