Featured Work
3 December 2025
Nature, people and place: why Australia’s environmental laws are critical for regions
Australia is rewriting its national environmental laws in response to widespread recognition that the current system is failing both nature and communities. In our submission to the reform process, we shared what we’ve heard from regional Australians around how to make these laws work for people, place and the environment.
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26 November 2025
Transition in South West Queensland: local views and questions
In November, The Next Economy travelled through South West Queensland, meeting councils, industry and local leaders to explore what transition means for the region. In this piece, our energy project officer Lyndsay Walsh reflects on the trip and how planning can reflect its realities, strengths and priorities.
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8 October 2025
The Economy We Could Have: new paper out now
Australia’s economy looks strong on the surface, but behind the averages lie deep divides in housing, work, health and opportunity. Our new paper, The Economy We Could Have, asks what our economy is really designed to do, who it is working for, and how can it support people’s wellbeing.
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All Work
3 December 2025
Nature, people and place: why Australia’s environmental laws are critical for regions
Australia is rewriting its national environmental laws in response to widespread recognition that the current system is failing both nature and communities. In our submission to the reform process, we shared what we’ve heard from regional Australians around how to make these laws work for people, place and the environment.
Read more
26 November 2025
Transition in South West Queensland: local views and questions
In November, The Next Economy travelled through South West Queensland, meeting councils, industry and local leaders to explore what transition means for the region. In this piece, our energy project officer Lyndsay Walsh reflects on the trip and how planning can reflect its realities, strengths and priorities.
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3 November 2025
Community insights for Uralla Shire’s energy future
What matters most to Uralla Shire residents during renewable energy development, based on insights from 150+ locals. This report sets priorities for housing, services, jobs and nature to ensure fair outcomes.
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8 October 2025
The Economy We Could Have: new paper out now
Australia’s economy looks strong on the surface, but behind the averages lie deep divides in housing, work, health and opportunity. Our new paper, The Economy We Could Have, asks what our economy is really designed to do, who it is working for, and how can it support people’s wellbeing.
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6 October 2025
Making renewables work for communities: the critical role of Councils
The Next Economy is mapping how Councils contribute at each stage of the development pathway to secure long-term community benefits.
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3 October 2025
Building Hay’s future together: early insights from the economic transition roadmap
The Next Economy and Hay Shire Council have been working side by side with the local community to better understand how Hay’s economy works today and what it will take to secure a stronger future.
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10 September 2025
Getting a better deal for regions hosting renewables
The new Striking a New Deal report highlights what regional areas need from renewable energy development. Our engagement in Uralla Shire shows how these national issues are playing out locally.
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13 August 2025
In Profile: First Nations Hub Network, Forever Reef Project
A groundbreaking collaboration to preserve coral biodiversity, empower First Peoples leadership, and build a resilient reef economy.
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4 August 2025
Time to strike a good deal for communities hosting renewables
Our Striking a New Deal partners FRRR and Projects JSA have released a new report showing how regional communities can secure a fairer deal from large-scale renewables.
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5 June 2025
Striking a New Deal for Uralla Shire
Uralla Shire is charting a new path through community-led planning and renewable energy collaboration – find out about our new partnership.
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2 June 2025
Heading Upstream: Towards a Wellbeing Economy
This short paper introduces key ideas and real-world examples driving a shift toward a wellbeing economy in Australia.
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28 May 2025
On the ground in Hay: building a future-ready regional economy
In the heart of NSW’s Riverina region, the town of Hay is asking big questions about its future.
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5 March 2025
Powering the transition while championing diversity
March 5 2025: Reimagining Diversity in Clean Energy Careers launches today. The rapid expansion of clean energy development is driving demand for hundreds of thousands of workers with diverse skills but right now many […]
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21 February 2025
Launching the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap
The Next Economy, together with Mount Isa City Council and Climate-KIC Australia, is proud to launch the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap. Mount Isa, like many other industrial regions, is at the crossroads […]
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19 February 2025
Strengthening Hay and Carrathool – Resilience Plan launched!
This week, the Hay and Carrathool Shire Councils launched the Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan. The Plan is designed to identify strategic focus areas and priority actions to strengthen regional resilience. Convened […]
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5 February 2025
Book launch and events for Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From Impossible to Possible
Regional Energy Transitions in Australia: From Impossible to Possible is out now. Join us at one of the many launches happening across the country from 5 March 2025.
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16 October 2024
Mixed signals and missed champions: regional transition trends
Across Australia, communities are driving the transition to net zero and tackling multiple disruptions. Here are five key trends we observed in recent months.
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16 October 2024
Five ways to empower regions in clean energy workforce development
TNE submitted insights to the National Energy Workforce Strategy consultation in September, focusing on increasing inclusivity in the clean energy workforce. We highlighted five key actions that could empower regions in workforce development.
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14 October 2024
Increasing inclusivity in the clean energy workforce
TNE provided a submission for the National Energy Workforce Strategy Consultation Paper in September. Here are key insights from the submission.
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14 October 2024
Mount Isa’s Future Ready Economy Roadmap: A stronger, more resilient future
Mount Isa’s Future Ready Economy Roadmap will launch in early 2025. It will outline practical steps to diversify and decarbonise the economy, build resilience and improve social wellbeing.
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15 July 2024
Community unites: More than 85 people collaborate on Resilient Economy Roadmap
Community members have come together to explore ways to future-proof communities as part of Hay and Carrathool Shire Council’s Resilient Economy Roadmap Project in NSW’s Riverina region.
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25 June 2024
Can we improve inclusiveness in the clean energy workforce?
The Next Economy is working with a range of stakeholders to explore how to expand the renewable energy workforce to include people who often face systemic barriers to employment.
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17 June 2024
Driving better community outcomes from renewable projects
Partner with us! An exciting opportunity for one rural or regional community The transformation of Australia’s energy system is underway, with regional communities playing a crucial role in hosting renewable energy and infrastructure projects. For […]
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8 May 2024
What’s a Wellbeing Economy?
Ahead of the Federal Budget, we ask Economic Change Lead Dr Katherine Trebeck five questions about a wellbeing economy.
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24 April 2024
One step closer for NZEA Bill 2024
TNE CEO Dr Amanda Cahill addressed the Senate hearing on the Net Zero Economy Authority Bill, stressing the need for an independent authority to support workers, industries, and regions in the transition to net zero.
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20 September 2023
What next? Community perspectives on Latrobe Valley’s energy transition
The Next Economy worked with Latrobe Valley community leaders to identify the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition for the region. Read the report.
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15 November 2022
Gladstone’s 10-year Economic Transition Roadmap
Gladstone Regional Council launched its 10-year economic transition roadmap to support and guide Queensland’s industrial capital to be a renewable energy superpower.
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6 September 2022
Consultation and feedback: Draft Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan
The Hay and Carrathool Regional Drought Resilience Plan (‘The Plan’) is a strategic framework shaping the future of the region through 2035. It is due for official release later this year. This summary paper […]
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22 May 2022
Mining towns want plan for energy transformation
Communities in Australia’s coal and gas heartlands say they need greater federal support and policy to mange the energy transition and make the most of economic opportunities. Guest: Dr Amanda Cahill, CEO The Next […]
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5 May 2022
What Regions Need on the Path to Net Zero
A major new report released today has found that regional Australia is undergoing an economic transformation, with historical coal and gas heartlands in pole position to capitalise on the global shift to net zero emissions
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20 April 2022
Energising the Future Economy of the Gladstone Region
Have your say in online survey about ‘Energising the Future Economy of the Gladstone Region’. Locals across the Gladstone Region are invited to participate in an online survey to share their thoughts on the […]
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14 March 2022
Transforming Queensland: The Case for a Transition Authority
The Queensland economy is being transformed as the world embraces the challenge to phase out fossil fuels and rapidly expand renewable energy generation in pursuit of net zero emissions goals. As one of the […]
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21 December 2021
Victorian Senate Enquiry Submission
We recently made a submission to the senate enquiry into the closure of the Hazelwood and Yallourn power stations in Victoria. This submission responds to the three points listed in the inquiry Terms of […]
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20 September 2021
Queensland Government Energy Transition Roadshow
The roadshow explored how the energy transition was impacting on regions and how it could generate new economic opportunities.
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16 September 2021
Stanwell Energy Corporation strategic advice
We worked with Stanwell in the development of their corporate strategy, which has led to the company not only integrating transition planning into their five-year strategy but has also led to the development of […]
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15 September 2021
Energy transition community forum
In the wake of the 2019 Federal Election, TNE was able to share the findings of previous transition strategy workshops undertaken in the Hunter Valley and Queensland to challenge the divisive rhetoric that all […]
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15 September 2021
Central Queensland Energy Futures Summit
By Dr Emma Whittlesea The Central Queensland Energy Futures Summit was a gathering of over 140 stakeholders, in Gladstone in April 2021, representing local and state government, energy companies and regulators, industrial sectors, unions, education […]
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13 September 2021
What Queensland Wants Report
Regional Perspectives on Building a Stronger Economy By Dr Amanda Cahill As the COVID pandemic hit, The Next Economy compiled the many economic stimulus ideas we’d collected from across Queensland into a report called “What […]
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18 August 2021
Training
The Next Economy has trained over 300 people working in environment, climate and social service organisations on how to work effectively with regional communities. This has included members of: Climate Action Network Australia Engineers […]
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11 August 2021
MIW Reef Resilience Project
In recognition of the importance of the food and agriculture sector and its impact on the resilience of Queensland’s iconic Great Barrier Reef, Sustainable Table (funded by the Morris Family Foundation) commissioned The Next […]
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