Australia: Government Contracts, Procurement & PPP

South Australia has announced a Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence, set to commence in October 2026 and deliver findings by July 2027. The inquiry will examine AI's economic and social impacts across policy, education, public services, workforce transformation, and infrastructure. Businesses using or developing AI should prepare for potential regulatory reforms and consider engaging with the inquiry process.

Space-related assets are becoming investable for infrastructure investors, with opportunities in ground stations, mission control assets, data-processing facilities and dual-use platforms. However, investors must carefully evaluate technology refresh risks, regulatory complexities including spectrum and orbital rights, and revenue bankability through counterparty quality rather than relying solely on sector growth projections.

Australia's Department of Home Affairs has introduced Ministerial Direction 119, fundamentally reshaping how skilled visa applications are prioritised based on occupation type and applicant location. For the first time, the Skills in Demand visa falls under priority processing rules, while regional location and accredited sponsor status no longer carry the weight they once did under the previous framework.

On 7 May 2026, the Federal Government announced a mandatory domestic gas reservation scheme, to be legislated through Parliament.

The NSW Parliament has introduced the Building (Approvals and Practitioners) Bill 2026, proposing sweeping changes to the state's building approval system and certifier responsibilities. While the Bill aims to streamline approvals and reduce red tape to meet housing targets, it controversially repeals the unpopular Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020 only to reinstate many of its key requirements, potentially facing significant industry opposition particularly from private certifiers whose liability

Australia's 2026-27 federal budget introduces sweeping immigration reforms that will reshape how skilled workers are selected, where temporary visa holders can buy property, and how quickly migrant tradespeople can enter the workforce. The changes mark the first overhaul of the skilled migration points test in over a decade and signal a strategic shift toward prioritizing onshore applicants already living in Australia. What do these policy adjustments mean for employers, migrants, and the broader trajectory

The Commonwealth Department of Finance will implement new Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) on 17 November 2025. These rules govern how Commonwealth entities procure financial and nonfinancial goods and services.

Recent NSW Land & Environment Court decisions underscore the evolving law of compulsory land acquisition & the importance of factual precision & fair negotiation.

The proposed NSW reforms present a timely reminder for public infrastructure delivery partners to review their internal processes .