China
On 10 September, China’s State Council Information Office held a briefing on the financial sector’s 15th Five-Year Plan. People’s Bank of China Deputy Governor Lu Lei said the plan, prepared by the Office of the Central Financial Commission together with the relevant financial authorities, had been released for the 2026–2030 period. Publicly released details identify the main tasks as improving the financial macro-regulation system, strengthening supervision, preventing and resolving financial risks, improving financial support for the real economy, promoting higher-quality development of the financial sector and expanding high-standard financial opening.
The plan sets a 2030 objective of establishing the overall framework of a modern financial system with Chinese characteristics, with more coordinated regulatory policies, a more efficient financial structure and more targeted risk prevention and control. At the same briefing, the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange outlined related arrangements for banking and insurance supervision, capital-market reform and opening, and cross-border financial management. CSRC Vice Chairman Li Chao said the regulator would advance a new round of capital-market reform and opening, with the stated goal of broadly establishing a new pattern of high-quality capital-market development by 2030.
Australia
On 10 September, the Australian Government released the legislative package for the Domestic Gas Reservation Bill 2026 for consultation, proposing the country’s first national domestic gas reservation scheme. Under the proposal, gas exporters would be required to supply a portion of their production to the domestic market rather than merely offer it to local buyers. The scheme would allow up to 20 per cent of gas exports to be reserved for Australian users, with the actual obligation calibrated to market demand.
The government says the Australian Energy Regulator would use demand forecasts to set obligations so that supply in the relevant market reaches 110 per cent of forecast demand, creating a modest 10 per cent buffer. The design also distinguishes between the physically separate eastern and western gas markets, with domestic supply obligations generally required to be met in the same market as the export facility. The government has adjusted the implementation timetable so that domestic supply obligations are proposed to begin on 1 July 2028, with existing export contracts addressed in the scheme’s arrangements. Consultation closes on 24 September 2026, and the government intends to introduce the bill to Parliament later this year.
United States
On 10 September, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit rejected the Trump administration’s request to stay a preliminary injunction, leaving in place a block on mandatory US Postal Service mail-ballot rules for the 3 November midterm elections. The rules would require federal-election ballot mail to use specified barcodes and envelope designs and would require state and local election officials to provide and certify voter information through a Postal Service system.
A federal district court in Massachusetts had previously issued the preliminary injunction after finding that imposing the requirements close to the election was likely to create widespread operational problems and risk disenfranchising voters. The First Circuit did not lift that injunction on 10 September. The Trump administration has separately asked the US Supreme Court to stay the injunction; at the time of this briefing, that request remained pending. As a result, the Postal Service’s new mandatory requirements remain blocked from taking effect as originally planned for the 2026 midterm election.
Editorial framework: This briefing uses Sustenesis as an editorial framework for selecting facts, organising relationships and structuring information, with attention to differences and constraints in rules, responsibilities, resources, risks and social relations. Sustenesis functions here as a method of organisation rather than a position or commentary; the body remains limited to verifiable facts.
Sources
The Central People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China: “China issues plan to boost strength in finance during 2026-2030 period”
https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202609/10/content_WS6aa2ab34c6d00ca5f9a0d1f7.html
China Securities Regulatory Commission: “SCIO press conference on implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan in the financial sector and building China into a financial powerhouse”
https://www.csrc.gov.cn/csrc/c100028/c7657861/content.shtml
Australian Government, Minister for Climate Change and Energy: “Joint media release: Securing more affordable gas for Australians”
https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/bowen/media-releases/joint-media-release-securing-more-affordable-gas-australians
Reuters: “Australia softens gas reserve rule for LNG exporters”
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/australia-softens-east-coast-gas-reservation-rule-lng-exporters-2026-09-10/
Reuters: “US appeals court rejects Trump mail-in ballot restrictions as Supreme Court considers rule”
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-appeals-court-rejects-trump-bid-implement-mail-in-voting-restrictions-2026-09-10/
CBS News: “Appeals court rejects Trump request to lift block on Postal Service rule for mail ballots”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-trump-usps-mail-ballots-first-circuit/
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