Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sterle. The Albanese government's Critical Minerals Strategy sets a plan and a framework to grow Australia's critical minerals industry, and the $2 billion expansion to the Critical Minerals Facility will support projects that align with that strategy. I do remember a lot of announcements by the former government when it came to critical minerals, but, as with so many other features of their government, there were lots of announcements and no real delivery, and it is the same when it comes to critical minerals. To pick just one way in which our approach differs, apart from announcements that actually deliver, we are a government that is committed to consultation with industry. Consultation with industry didn't seem to be a priority of the Liberals and the Nationals, just as delivery didn't seem to be a priority. They delivered two critical minerals strategies and a critical minerals list—lots of big announcements—but they hardly delivered anything and hardly consulted anyone. This government is committed to acting with transparency and integrity and, unlike the Liberals and Nationals, we will actually deliver.