The Waratah Super Battery — Australia’s largest grid-connected battery and among the world’s biggest battery energy storage systems — has temporarily lost some capacity after defects were discovered in two transformers during commissioning tests. The project, built by Akaysha Energy on the former Munmorah coal-fired power station site on NSW’s Central Coast, is designed to deliver up to 850MW at full build, roughly enough to power nearly 1 million homes for one hour. Inspections found issues with two of the three on-site transformers, and those units are now subject to detailed engineering examinations to identify the fault and determine remediation steps.
Akaysha said the facility is still operating at an interim commercial output of 350MW and continues to provide System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) services that support NSW grid stability. The company expects to restore the remaining capacity during 2026 as remediation and commissioning work progress.
Household sentiment lifts unexpectedly, Westpac says
Westpac’s monthly consumer sentiment survey recorded a surprising uptick, with household confidence moving into positive territory for the first time since early 2022. Economists had anticipated weaker sentiment given ongoing inflationary pressure and concerns about interest rates, but Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan called the result “extraordinary and somewhat surprising.”
The improvement reflected stronger views on the economy and household finances and a notable rise in buyer sentiment — a potentially helpful sign for retailers ahead of the holiday period. Hassan warned, however, that the gain is only marginal rather than strongly upbeat, and borrowers reported increased pessimism in November as hopes for further rate cuts faded.
Other major stories
– Alan Jones court date set: A sexual abuse hearing for broadcaster Alan Jones is scheduled to start on 3 August 2026. The 84-year-old faces 25 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching relating to nine alleged victims. The hearing may run through to December 2026 and is expected to feature a large number of prosecution witnesses.
– Triple fatal crash in Victoria: A truck and a car collided in Stoneleigh, western Victoria, leaving an adult and two children dead. Emergency services said the car rolled and was crushed at the intersection of Erambeen-Streatham and Mount William roads. Another adult trapped in the vehicle has life-threatening injuries.
– Melbourne runway near-miss: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found that flight crews were not aware a Melbourne runway had been temporarily shortened by almost 1,600 metres during resurfacing in September 2023. Two passenger aircraft departed past the temporary runway end, narrowly avoiding construction vehicles and workers. The ATSB concluded that crews received critical information but did not absorb it amid workload and time pressures, and the incident has prompted changes to how notifications are issued.
– Coles rejects salmon boycott call: Supermarket chain Coles declined a shareholder motion to stop selling Tasmanian-farmed Atlantic salmon at its annual general meeting. Chair Peter Allen said the company will continue to monitor due diligence and scientific developments and believes its current sourcing approach remains the most responsible path for sustainable seafood.
– Governor-general warns of democratic fragility: Sam Mostyn, speaking on the 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s dismissal, warned of a “collision of apathy and disinformation” and urged a renewed focus on civics education and institutional transparency to protect democracy.
– The Wiggles admit possible safety breach: The children’s group acknowledged, via a court-enforceable undertaking signed by Anthony Field, that Emma Bow headbands sold between June 2022 and March 2024 likely breached consumer law by omitting mandatory safety warnings about button batteries. More than 3,100 headbands were sold and recalled in August 2024. The group plans a podcast episode devoted to battery safety.
– NSW Nationals move away from net zero pledge: NSW Nationals MPs have indicated they will follow the federal Nationals in stepping back from an explicit commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, instead backing a “cheaper, better and fairer” agenda emphasising affordability and reliability. The shift intensifies Coalition tensions over energy and climate policy and poses a test for NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman.
– Prime minister backs limits on masked protesters: Anthony Albanese supported new state measures to restrict masks and balaclavas at protests, saying free speech does not extend to vilification or antisemitic conduct. His remarks followed a weekend neo‑Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament.
– Banking and housing: Commonwealth Bank reported a quarterly cash profit of $2.6 billion, up 2% year on year, helped by rising mortgage volumes and higher house prices. Housing values are increasing at one of the fastest rates in several years, prompting debate among economists about drivers such as government deposit guarantee schemes and broader demand factors.
– Legal and policing updates: NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon said he would have sought legal advice had he been briefed before a controversial neo‑Nazi protest was allowed to proceed. Separately, prosecutors withdrew rape charges against Geelong AFL player Tanner Bruhn and a co-accused after the complainant admitted fabricating the allegation; the men have consistently denied wrongdoing.
What to watch next
Akaysha Energy’s timetable for inspections and repairs at the Waratah Super Battery will be watched closely for implications for NSW’s grid resilience. Analysts and retailers will look to see whether Westpac’s modest lift in consumer sentiment translates into sustained spending over the summer. Political debates over net zero commitments and protest laws are also likely to remain prominent in the coming weeks.
