When Texan lawyers go outback to spruik renewables
Three Australian organisations paid a combined $30,000 to fly a delegation of Texan energy lawyers to regional Queensland, to educate landholders and local councils on the economic and long-term potential of wind and solar energy, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Led by Texan wind lawyer and rancher Rod Wetsel, the delegation toured Hughenden, Townsville, Mackay and Brisbane to share lessons from Texas’ Competitive Renewable Energy Zones—geographic areas of West Texas and the Panhandle identified by the state’s Public Utility Commission as having exceptional wind and solar resources.
The Flinders Shire Council, Local Government Association of Queensland and Remote Area Planning and Development Board chose the lawyers to guide local landholders in scaling up wind, solar and battery networks. Following Australia’s recent unprecedented battery boom, which helped lower wholesale electricity prices, efforts such as this to phase out fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy are continuing to increase, according to a separate ABC report.
Tasmanian Architecture Award winners 2026 Unveil the state’s best new architecture
Hempcrete starred in the sustainability category of the Australian Institute of Architects 2026 Tasmanian Architecture Awards with The Forest, designed by Woods Baggot, featuring in the sustainability category of the awards. The adaptive reuse of Hobart’s Forestry Building is one of the largest commercial applications of hempcrete, a bio-composite material that sequesters carbon. The project also included preserved materials from over half of the original site. The effect of this unique construction technique was an estimated reduction in embodied carbon of more than 40 per cent.
A total of 31 projects were recognised in the awards, with jury chair Martin Stephenson saying the commonalities this year included a “clear theme of respect for physical and social history”.
Another notable mention within the sustainable infrastructure sector is the prototype homes, Isabel and Elsie, created by Christopher Clinton in collaboration with Core Collective Architects. Designed for the Hobart Women’s Shelter to provide healing environments for women and children recovering from homelessness and family violence, the buildings also take advantage of a net-zero energy design and modular construction to achieve sustainability without compromising on comfort.
More information on this year’s winners is available here.
NatHERS extends accreditation and subsidies to trainees and assessors
The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) said it will provide free accreditation and membership subsidies until there are 150 accredited assessors in total. The move would allow new trainees to be eligible for a share in subsidies following a previous announcement of free accreditation and membership in 2026-27 for current trainees and accredited assessors.
By removing financial barriers and reducing upfront costs, the organisation aims to incentivise workers to enter the profession and support those currently working in the industry, according to the NatHERS website, which will provide more information and updates later in 2026.
Productivity Commission to examine housing supply regulations
The Productivity Commission has launched a public inquiry to identify regulatory barriers that most affect housing. The inquiry will be used to generate a prioritised list of reforms to accelerate the delivery of new homes and boost construction productivity in Australia.
Public submissions to contribute data, research, or case studies are due by Monday, 15 June 2026, to the commission’s Housing Supply Regulation Call for Submissions page.
