The Australian Government says it is seeking to position the country as a global leader in the production and processing of critical minerals, as it promotes new investment opportunities to international partners.
In a joint media release, the government announced the launch of a new Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus, which outlines 49 mining projects and 29 midstream processing projects that it says are ready for investment.
The prospectus is intended to attract overseas capital and support the development of new supply chains, while contributing to job creation in Australia.
Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King launched the prospectus while in Washington DC, where she is participating in Critical Minerals Ministerial meetings led by the United States Government.
According to the release, critical minerals and rare earths projects are located across Australia and are considered important for clean energy technologies and defence applications.
The Government said the prospectus forms part of broader efforts to support the sector, including through the United States–Australia Framework for Securing Supply in the Mining and Processing of Critical Minerals and Rare Earths, which was signed in October.
It also highlighted existing policy measures, including the $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, the $4 billion Critical Minerals Facility and the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive.
Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said Australia’s mineral resources and technical expertise present significant economic opportunities.
He said the government is seeking to strengthen the resources sector through investment and export initiatives, including recent trade agreements, and described the prospectus as a way to highlight processing opportunities to international investors.
Minister King said Australia has both the resource base and technical capability to develop critical minerals projects at scale.
She said the government aims to position Australia as a reliable and sustainable supplier, citing labour and environmental standards as part of its approach.
The interactive Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus has been made publicly available online, allowing investors to view project details and locations.
