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.

Today, the Coalition has released its detailed and fully costed “Plan for a Strong Resources Industry”, including the expansion of the official critical minerals list to include uranium along with zinc, bauxite, alumina, aluminium, potash, phosphate and tin. 

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will support our mining, resources and farming sectors by investing in infrastructure to upgrade agricultural and mining roads critical to getting product to domestic and export markets.

An elected Dutton Coalition Government will turbocharge the mining and resources sector by reinstating the Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive (JMEI), cut by Labor, with $100 million capped over four years.

A Dutton-led Coalition Government will turbocharge our resources sector – and we see the future of gas as being instrumental to that.

We cherish this country because it affords opportunities like no other. But only – and I stress this point – if we’re governed well. When Australia is governed badly, dreams and ambitions become beyond reach. And that’s what’s happened during the last three years under the Albanese Government.

The Albanese Labor Government’s probe into buffel grass is ill-advised, displays an extraordinary disconnect from agricultural issues and is another example of an administration focused on the wrong priorities as it attacks Australian food production.

So mining pays the bills for Australia and I start all of my presentations with that because that is an incredibly important thing to know and I’m not sure that Australians do know that anymore. We certainly know the Treasurer doesn’t know that. And at the budget last year with a $50 billion surplus from windfall prices, he managed in his budget speech to not mention mining at all, much less coal, gas or iron ore. Couldn’t find anywhere to mention that in his speech. That is shocking.

The Albanese Labor Government must put partisan politics aside, and urgently include bauxite, alumina and aluminium on Australia’s Critical Minerals List, due to the rising geopolitical risks and the damaging of Australia’s investment environment the Government has presided over.