House debates

Tuesday, 23 May 2023

Questions without Notice

Mining Industry

2:32 pm

Photo of Madeleine KingMadeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks to the member for Pearce for her question and for her ongoing and enduring support for the resources sector of this country. This government recognises the role of critical minerals in our net zero ambitions and the role critical minerals will play in helping Australia and the world to decarbonise. As I have said before, the road to net zero runs through Australia's resources sector.

Over these past 12 months since the election, the Albanese government has been delivering in spades for the Australian critical minerals sector. Last weekend the Prime Minister met with President Biden and enhanced Australia's relationship with the US by establishing climate, critical minerals and clean energy, alongside defence and economic cooperation, as the third pillar of the Australia-United States alliance. This is encapsulated in the Climate, Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Transformation Compact signed by the Prime Minister and the President last week. As part of this compact, I'll gladly be spearheading a new Australia-US task force on critical minerals that will fast track critical minerals supply chain development between our two countries. This task force will be administered by my department, in cooperation with the US National Security Council. This is a very important step and a significant step for the critical minerals and rare earths industry of this nation.

That's just one of the many ways this government is helping to build the critical minerals industry in this country since taking power. We've also entered into agreements on investment and development of critical minerals and rare elements with Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, Korea, France and India. And it does not end there. I recently announced close to $50 million in grants to 13 projects across Australia as part of the second tranche of the Critical Minerals Development Program. Those grants are expected to drive up to $120 million of private sector investment and support up to 900 jobs, including around 100 roles for First Nations Australians. These projects will produce critical minerals—

Comments

No comments