Australian Government Policies

Geoscience Australia supports the objectives of Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 to grow our critical minerals sector, expand downstream processing and help meet future global demand. We support the Critical Minerals Office to help grow Australia's critical minerals sector and position Australia globally as a secure, reliable, and ethical supplier of critical minerals.

Our critical minerals activities include:

• Technical advice to government
• Scientific research including precompetitive data acquisition and mineral resource assessments
• Data enabling services and decision-support tools
• International and national collaborations
• Publications
• Public communication
• Investment attraction

Policies and Strategies

• Critical minerals are crucial to building a Future Made in Australia. The critical minerals sector is a priority industry under the Future Made in Australia agenda’s economic resilience and security stream. This recognises that the sector is both critical to economic resilience and security and vulnerable to disruptions.
• The 2023-2030 Critical Minerals Strategy outlines priorities for the development of Australia’s critical minerals sector to ensure that it can seize the opportunities of the net zero transformation.

• The Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List identify minerals that are important for Australia’s modern technologies, economies and national security.
• The Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve secures supply of select critical minerals for Australia and our key international partners. Critical minerals and rare earths are vital inputs to the modern and future economy. They underpin the energy transition, high tech manufacturing, AI, digital and defence technologies.
• The Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive provides a 10% tax offset for eligible projects to support the expansion of critical minerals processing and refining in Australia.

• The Australian government is committed to developing the country’s first National Battery Strategy to articulate a clear pathway for integrated, end-to-end onshore battery minerals supply chains.
• The Australian government has committed $15 billion to establish the National Reconstruction Fund to provide finance for projects that diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy.
• The National Electric Vehicle Strategy sets a vision to increase the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce our emissions and improve the wellbeing of Australians.
• The National Science Statement outlines how science and research will help Australia thrive in a changing world.
• The revitalised National Science and Research Priorities emphasise the science and research collaborations Australia will need to solve our greatest challenges.