The recent closure of Alcoa’s alumina refinery is yet another notch on Labor’s shameful track record on securing Australia’s critical minerals potential, as they continue to drive Australian industry, investment, and jobs offshore.

Labor’s gas market interventions have failed the East Coast market, the ACCC has confirmed in their most recent Interim Gas report. 

Labor’s anti-mining regulations, combined with crippling coal royalty rates are forcing job losses and impacting support industries in regional communities, sparking calls for an urgent review.
Shadow Minister for Resources, Senator Susan McDonald said mining companies were preparing to mothball their Queensland assets and had started alerting suppliers that their services were no longer required.

Shadow Minister for Northern Australia, Senator Susan McDonald has called on the Albanese Government to protect Australian banana farmers after the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry indicated it will review quarantine arrangements in relation to banana imports from the Philippines.

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.

The Government’s own consumer watchdog, the ACCC, has today warned gas shortages are imminent for southern states from the end of this year.

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.