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Mooted WA oil refinery ‘dinosaur technology’ amid clean energy transition, experts say

By: Krishani Dhanji and Graham Readfearn

29 July 2026 at 07:15

A feasibility study for the Western Australian project will show the project is uneconomic and requires government subsidies, experts say

Leading Australian climate policy experts say a new oil refinery in Western Australia would be an investment in “dinosaur technology” that would require public subsidy and do little to solve the country’s fuel security.

The Albanese government announced a $4m early-stage feasibility study with the WA government for a new oil refinery in the Pilbara region on Tuesday, but experts said the money would be better spent on green technology to reduce Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels.

Experts told Guardian Australia doing the feasibility study was not a bad idea, but would ultimately show the project would be uneconomic and would require government subsidies.

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ANU accused of ‘hysterical’ response to students using AI to cheat as unis scramble to ‘secure’ assessments

The Guardian - Technology

By: Krishani Dhanji

18 July 2026 at 21:00

Australia risks ‘shipping’ intellectual capability overseas if educational rigour not restored, experts warn

An academic at the Australian National University has accused it of a “hysterical” response to students using AI to cheat, as tertiary institutions rush to shore up the credibility of assessments.

But a colleague warned Australia is in danger of “shipping our national intellectual capability” to companies in California and China if educational rigour is not restored.