Australia has lost the opportunity to secure national support for a regional New South Wales site with massive critical mineral potential, leaving the US to seize the day with a $566 million investment.
Shadow Minister for Resources Senator Susan McDonald and Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources and Federal Member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey MP, today said the Labor Government had been asleep at the wheel, forcing Australian miners to seek international investment.

Whilst there remain many challenges facing Australia and our energy mix, there is still hope on the horizon. As I have said, I have faith in the Australian spirit. 
We have the best resources in the world. We have the ingenuity, the drive, and the knowledge to maximise them. 
We should not be energy-reliant, but energy-independent. We should not be in the position that we are in – today – ever again. We should be pulling every lever available to us: coal, gas, uranium, oil – and we can do that by drilling and digging what we have in abundance here.

Mining pays the bills for Australia. These words remain as true today as when I made the same statement two years ago, when we last gathered for Minerals Week, and as true as 100 years ago.
The copper fields of Cloncurry to the development of coal in Queensland transformed my state from an agrarian economy – and cheap electricity (as well as the removal of death duties) turbo-charged the state into a powerhouse of small businesses, manufacturing, tourism and the arts. 

It is clear that Australia holds the minerals and the capability to supply the next mining boom, and deliver the strategic and critical minerals our partners need. What is not clear is whether we will be able to maximise this opportunity – and this is where the Albanese Labor Government has been asleep at the wheel.

The latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report has today confirmed that uranium is key to global energy supply, as demand and prices are set to increase in coming years, renewing calls from the Coalition to add uranium to Australia’s Critical Minerals List.

Concerning reports that an Australian shipment of key defence critical minerals was delayed and then returned to Australia by China, highlights the weakness of the Albanese Government’s critical minerals agenda, and raises concerns of Australia’s ability to guarantee supply to the United States.

Soaring energy costs, unworkable industrial relations laws and over-regulation mean we don’t have a ‘Future Made In Australia’ under this government, it’s a nightmare made in Australia.

Reports that Glencore’s Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery are on the cusp of closure should jolt the Albanese Labor Government into action.

The Albanese Government has been challenged to release the economic modelling of its so-called critical minerals stockpile following condemnation from Australia’s largest critical minerals miner, Lynas Rare Earths.

After three years in office the Albanese Labor Government’s policy to only now “begin talks with allies” on critical minerals reserves is a telling admission that Labor has dithered on national security, trade and resources policy.