The Waratah Super Battery — the largest battery on Australia’s energy grid and one of the world’s biggest battery energy storage systems — has suffered a temporary loss of capacity after issues were found with two transformers during testing.
Located on the former Munmorah coal-fired power station site on NSW’s Central Coast and developed by Akaysha Energy, the project is designed to deliver up to 850MW when complete — enough to power nearly 1 million homes for one hour. Akaysha said inspections during commissioning identified problems with two of three on-site transformers. Those units are undergoing detailed engineering examinations to determine the cause and next steps.
Akaysha said the battery remains operational at an interim commercial capacity of 350MW and continues to provide System Integrity Protection Scheme (SIPS) services to bolster NSW grid security. The company expects the remaining capacity to be brought online during 2026 as remediation and commissioning work continues.
Consumer confidence surprising lift, Westpac says
Westpac’s latest monthly consumer sentiment survey recorded a surprising lift, with household sentiment turning positive for the first time since early 2022. Analysts had expected deteriorating sentiment amid higher inflation and interest-rate concerns, but Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan described the result as “extraordinary and somewhat surprising.”
The improvement was driven by stronger confidence about the economy and households’ finances and a notable rise in buyer sentiment — a potentially welcome sign for retailers heading into the holiday season. Hassan cautioned, however, that sentiment is only “marginally positive” rather than strongly optimistic, and households with mortgages reported more pessimism in November as prospects for further rate cuts faded.
Other major stories
– Alan Jones court date set: A sexual abuse hearing for broadcaster Alan Jones has been scheduled to begin on 3 August 2026. The 84-year-old faces 25 charges of indecent assault and two counts of sexual touching involving nine alleged victims. The hearing could run until December 2026 and will involve a large number of prosecution witnesses.
– Triple fatal collision in Victoria: An adult and two children died after a truck and car collided in Stoneleigh, western Victoria. Emergency services said the car rolled and was crushed at the intersection of Erambeen-Streatham and Mount William roads. Another adult trapped in the car has life-threatening injuries.
– Melbourne runway near-miss report: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau found flight crews were unaware a Melbourne runway had been temporarily shortened by nearly 1,600 metres during resurfacing works in September 2023. Two passenger aircraft departed beyond the temporary runway end, narrowly missing construction vehicles and workers. The ATSB said critical information was received by crews but not absorbed amid workload and time pressures, prompting changes to notification practices.
– Coles rejects salmon boycott request: Supermarket chain Coles declined a shareholder push to stop selling Tasmanian-farmed Atlantic salmon at its annual general meeting. Chair Peter Allen said Coles would continue to review due-diligence processes and scientific updates, and believed its current actions remained the most responsible path for sustainable seafood sourcing.
– Governor-general warns of democratic “fragility”: Sam Mostyn used a speech marking 50 years since Gough Whitlam’s dismissal to warn of a “collision of apathy and disinformation” and urged renewed focus on civics education and transparency to safeguard democratic institutions.
– Wiggles admit possible consumer law breach: The Wiggles have 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 will devote a podcast episode to battery safety.
– NSW Nationals to abandon net zero commitment: NSW Nationals MPs have signalled they will follow the federal Nationals in moving away from an explicit commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, endorsing instead a “cheaper, better and fairer” plan focused on affordability and reliability. The decision compounds tensions within the Coalition about energy and climate policy and presents a test for NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman.
– Prime minister backs limits on masked protests: Anthony Albanese supported new state measures to restrict masks and balaclavas at protests, saying free speech does not extend to vilification or antisemitic behaviour. The remarks follow a weekend neo‑Nazi rally outside the NSW parliament that provoked condemnation.
– Banking and economy: Commonwealth Bank reported quarterly cash profit of $2.6bn, up 2% year on year, supported by higher mortgage volumes and rising house prices. Housing data show values growing at one of the fastest rates in several years, and economists continue to debate factors such as government deposit guarantee schemes and broader demand dynamics.
– Legal and policing notes: 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 co-accused after the complainant admitted fabricating the allegation; the men have maintained their innocence.
What to watch next
Akaysha Energy’s inspections and remediation timeline for the Waratah Super Battery will be closely monitored for implications on NSW grid resilience, and Westpac’s sentiment shift will be watched for whether it translates into sustained consumer spending through the summer. Political developments on net zero and protest laws are likely to remain prominent in the coming weeks as state and federal debates continue.
