AI & Data Governance: PM Albanese’s push for an Office of AI and new rules for AI data centres is drawing fresh scrutiny, including warnings that regional businesses could be left behind as the framework focuses on energy, water and copyright protections. Public Safety & Telecom Accountability: Telstra executives face a parliamentary inquiry after a nationwide outage disrupted triple-zero calls, EFTPOS and public transport, with critics arguing “profits ahead of public safety” and calling for stronger obligations. Health & Illicit Markets: Smoking and vaping are at record lows, but the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey shows a sharp rise in illicit tobacco purchases among remaining smokers, raising pressure on enforcement and retail controls. Property & Tax Policy: A major tax deduction gap is highlighted for owner-occupiers, while investors can claim mortgage interest—fueling debate about housing incentives and affordability. Environment & Land Use: Central Australia’s “green” boom is tied to buffel grass expansion, reigniting calls to treat it as a national weed of significance while weighing impacts on pastoralists. Governance & Institutions: Universities are accused of failing to curb anti-Semitism, as a royal commission hears allegations of leadership breakdowns and disputes over protest versus hate. Consumer & Fraud: ASIC warns of “pump and dump” scams targeting near-retirees using hijacked celebrity economist identities. Regional Politics Preview: A Secret Harbour by-election is framed as a potential preview of broader WA and federal voting shifts, with One Nation testing its appeal against Labor.