Developer wins court battle for 500 MW big battery in Rockhampton after council rejection
After a deluge that flooded Pacific Pavilion, Australia was a no show at fossil fuel exit roadmap
Civil propaganda
I bumped into a quote by Frank Zappa on Sunday. It was: “The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it’s profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theatre”1.
Chinese property down, down and down
The great Chinese property crash is, once again, worsening. It’s another banner year for lost hope. Sentiment disappears. Far-flung cities are the most troubled. Completions are going the way of all flesh. The Chinese consumer is deleveraging. Talk of rebalancing towards consumption at this point is a joke.
Aussie real wages smashed lower
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released the wage price index for the September quarter of 2025, which reported a quarterly increase of 0.8% and an annual increase of 3.4%: The outcome aligned with the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) and market expectations, posing no significant policy implications. The following chart shows that public
The Driven Podcast: What V2G means for you | Live from Everything Electric
Victorian power bills to surge amid renewables rush
Victoria has legislated a target to source 95% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2035. This is one of the most ambitious renewable energy goals in Australia and globally, designed to accelerate the state’s transition away from cheap brown coal and toward cleaner energy sources, such as wind, solar, and storage. The target is
‘Bricks-and-mortar’ retailers crushed by online juggernauts
Who would want to be a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ retailer in Australia? Not only are they facing an explosion of shoplifting and theft, especially in Victoria, as well as soaring rental and energy costs, but they are also facing surging competition from online behemoths that offer unparalleled prices and convenience, rapidly stealing market share.
did we forget to mention the intimate (or inmate) return of BB (big brother)?....
Taking a fun look back at 2025 are The Cheap Seats hosts Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald. Joining in on the action are Mel Tracina, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and special guest Nevaeh-Lea Benton...