Five Australian government releases from 5 November cover workforce planning, public health rules, clean energy, trade diplomacy and public-sector employment. NSW published its first statewide coal skills audit and brought nitrous oxide sale restrictions into effect, while ARENA backed a Victorian hydrogen steelmaking pilot. Treasurer Jim Chalmers co-chaired the sixth Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, and the ABS reported moderating public-sector job and earnings growth in 2025-26.
Thursday 5 November 2026 (Australia/Sydney source-local date) · 5 releases · MediaRelease.co editorial digest
NSW has released its first state-wide Skills Audit of the coal workforce, covering the Hunter, Central West, North West and Illawarra for the Future Jobs and Investment Authority. The Hunter accounts for more than 60 per cent of the state’s coal workers. Ministers said the audit will help back current coal jobs while planning for communities as global coal demand is expected to decline.
New NSW restrictions on the sale and supply of nitrous oxide took effect on 5 November 2026, targeting recreational misuse of the gas known as nangs. Retailers must not sell to under-18s, must not sell canisters over 10 grams directly to consumers, and face limits on how much can be sold to an individual in a day, alongside a public awareness campaign.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency will provide $15 million toward a $30 million Hadean Energy pilot hydrogen plant in Victoria to trial CSIRO-developed technology that could cut electricity use by about 30 per cent versus conventional electrolysers. The plant aims to supply around 85 per cent of the hydrogen needed for a steel annealing process, producing up to 7 kilograms of hydrogen per hour.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers co-chaired the sixth Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue with China’s National Development and Reform Commission Chairman Zheng Shanjie, the first time the dialogue has run for three consecutive years. Talks covered trade, investment and global volatility, and are intended to pave the way for the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Xi later this month.
Australian public sector jobs rose 2.3 per cent between June 2025 and June 2026, the slowest annual increase since the onset of COVID-19, while the wage bill grew 6.6 per cent to $266.1 billion, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Growth moderated from 7.8 per cent wage growth in 2024-25 as Commonwealth and local government hiring slowed. Health care and social assistance led industry gains, adding 29,700 jobs.
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