Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Resources, Senator Farrell. Australia is home to some of the world's largest deposits of critical minerals and rare earths, which are essential for clean energy technologies and advanced manufacturing—who provide Australian jobs, I might add. How is the Albanese Labor government working with the industry and international partners to build Australia's sovereign critical minerals capabilities and secure our place in the global supply chain?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Polley for her incisive question there about critical minerals and rare earths, because they are vital to Australia's economic future and to our national security. They are minerals the world needs for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defence and technologies Australians use every single day.

That's why the Albanese Labor government has a very clear plan. We're building new processing capacity here at home, where we are creating good, high-paying Australian jobs right around the country, and we're working closely with trusted international partners to diversify the global supply of these important minerals. Under our framework, as agreed between Australia and the United States just recently, the United States will invest more than half a billion dollars to support the Sunrise Energy Metals scandium project near Dubbo, not that far from here in New South Wales. It's one of the world's largest and highest-grade scandium projects, and it has important applications in aerospace and clean energy. This project will create about 100 construction jobs and about 60 ongoing jobs.

Labor is delivering real outcomes. That means more investment, it means more capabilities, and it means more secure supply chains for Australia.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Polley, first supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Albanese Labor government's Future Made in Australia agenda is aimed at ensuring more of that value is created here at home. How is the work strengthening Australia's economic security, supporting regional jobs and helping the Australian resource sector capture more value from our natural resources, including those from Tasmania?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Polley for her first supplementary question—and it's particular reference to Tasmania—because no government has mobilised more support or delivered more results for critical minerals than this Albanese Labor government.

We're delivering a production tax credit to support critical minerals processing projects in Australia, and that's starting from 1 July 2027, less than six months away. We are delivering the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, which has already enabled a final investment decision for the Arafura Rare Earths project in the Northern Territory, which I'm shortly going to go and visit. We're committed to establishing that reserve because these minerals are essential to the modern and the future economy, and we've delivered on that commitment. This results in new— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Polley, second supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, industry has highlighted the need for government support, strategic partnerships and investment certainty. How is the Albanese Labor government addressing these challenges, and is the minister aware of any obstacles to strengthening Australia's critical minerals industry, economics, resilience and future jobs here in Australia?

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) | Link to this | Hansard source

I think you can guess where those obstacles are going to be. No country alone can create secure end-to-end supply chains in critical minerals and rare earths. That's why the Albanese Labor government is working with our trusted partners to attract investment, secure supply chains and build more capability here.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Farrell, please resume your seat. Senator Polley?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of order, President, I can't even hear the answer to my question, which is an important question on our economy.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! You're exactly right, Senator Polley, and you will note that I did call those disruptive senators to order. I'll remind them again that the minister has the right to put his answers in silence.

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for that protection, President.

Those opposite—these people over here—pose a real risk to our approach. Are you listening, Senator Canavan? They opposed the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. They opposed the National Reconstruction Fund, they opposed the Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive even before they knew what it was, and they refused to support the single largest investment of any government ever in the resources sector. But this is not new. (Time expired)