**Ley's Letters Signal Shift in Coalition Strategy** In a notable move, Sussan Ley, the leader of the Coalition, has begun sending letters to her party's frontbenchers, a departure from the norm for opposition leaders. This initiative aims to clarify key government priorities and commitments, as Ley seeks to establish a more organized and professional approach within the party. Ley's office stated that these letters would assist the Coalition in developing a "clear, credible policy platform" for the upcoming election. The letters come after Ley's recent correspondence with Republican politicians regarding Australia's recognition of Palestine. Some observers view this new strategy as Ley's attempt to assert control amid recent internal conflicts within the Liberal Party. The Coalition's performance in the last election, where it faced criticism for lacking substantial policies, has prompted this shift towards outlining expectations for frontbenchers. Meanwhile, Victorian frontbencher Dan Tehan is proactively shaping policies in his role overseeing energy and emissions reduction. Tehan recently returned from a trip to the United States, where he noted a resurgence in nuclear energy discussions. He plans to advocate for lifting the moratorium on nuclear energy, shifting the focus from government-operated plants to private sector investment. This approach is expected to differ significantly from previous Coalition policies. On the government side, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese returned to Australia after a week-and-a-half abroad, quickly addressing the media in Sydney. He announced an expansion of the first home buyers scheme, allowing buyers to enter the market with a 5% deposit, backed by a government guarantee. Albanese highlighted the stark contrast in home prices, noting that a $42,200 deposit today is far less than what was required two decades ago. Despite the positive reception of Albanese's international engagements, he faced criticism for attending a British Labour Party conference. Additionally, he encountered challenges regarding a defense treaty with Papua New Guinea and reports of China banning iron ore imports from BHP. Albanese also faced backlash from state premiers over hospital funding commitments. A deal made in 2023 aimed to increase federal funding for hospitals, but premiers claimed the latest offer fell short of expectations. In the telecommunications sector, the fallout from Optus's recent outages continues to escalate. Communications Minister Anika Wells is under pressure following another outage just days before a scheduled meeting with Optus's board. Wells, a new minister in the portfolio, is expected to fast-track legislation to enhance the role of a custodian responsible for preventing future outages. The ongoing issues at Optus, including a significant hack in 2022 and the recent outage, have raised questions about the effectiveness of leadership changes within the company. As the government navigates these challenges, the focus remains on ensuring reliable communication services for Australians.