UK steel imports will be cut by 60% from 1 July under the government’s new Steel Strategy, with any volumes above the reduced tariff-rate quotas facing a 50% duty. The move is likely to raise prices for rebar, structural sections and plate used in major UK infrastructure and building projects, particularly where designs rely on imported grades or mill sizes. Contractors and designers may need to recheck cost plans, procurement schedules and material specifications for projects tendering or breaking ground in late 2026.

Geoscience Australia is marking 80 years of geological and geophysical operations by launching a new 10‑year national geoscience strategy to guide exploration, resource assessment and hazard mapping. The strategy is expected to steer federal investment in continent‑scale datasets such as deep seismic profiles, gravity and magnetics surveys, and national drilling programs that support critical minerals targeting. For miners and consultants, the roadmap signals continued access to pre‑competitive data to de‑risk greenfields exploration and infrastructure planning across remote basins.

Government plans to ban cash retentions in construction contracts aim to “prevent the abuse of retention payments in construction”, signalling a major shift in how risk and defects liability are managed across UK projects. The move would directly affect standard forms such as NEC and JCT, where 3–5% retentions are commonly withheld through practical completion and defects periods. Contractors and subcontractors could see significant changes to cashflow, security instruments (bonds, project bank accounts) and commercial negotiation of quality and defect-remedy provisions.