Strategy at a glance

The Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 is a framework to grow Australia’s critical minerals sector.

Our critical minerals sector is well placed to seize the opportunities of the clean energy transition thanks to Australia’s:

  • rich geological reserves
  • expertise at extracting minerals
  • track record as a reliable producer and exporter of energy and resources.

The Strategy’s vision is that by 2030 Australia:

  • has grown the geostrategic and economic benefits of its critical minerals sector
  • is a globally significant producer of raw and processed critical minerals
  • supports diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains.

The Strategy was shaped by extensive public consultation to understand the barriers and opportunities facing the Australian industry and community.

Its objectives are to:

  • create diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains through strong and secure international partnerships
  • build sovereign capability in critical minerals processing
  • use our critical minerals to help become a renewable energy superpower
  • extract more value onshore from our resources, creating jobs and economic opportunity, including for regional and First Nations communities.

The Strategy sets out priorities across 6 focus areas. These outline how the Government will seize our critical minerals opportunity by working with:

  • communities
  • industry
  • investors
  • the research and innovation sector
  • states and territories
  • international partners.
Table 1: What success looks like for each focus area

Focus area

What does success look like?

Developing strategically important projects

Targeted, proportionate support from the Australian Government to de-risk strategically important critical minerals projects, attract private finance and ensure Australian processing and manufacturing projects can access Australian minerals. Alignment between States, Territories and Australian Government on developing strategically important projects.

Attracting investment and building international partnerships

Increased investment from, and collaboration with, likeminded partners to grow Australia’s downstream processing capability and build diverse, resilient and sustainable global supply chains.

First Nations engagement and benefit sharing

Genuine engagement and collaboration with First Nations communities that promotes benefit sharing and respects the land and water rights and interests of First Nations people and communities.

Promoting Australia as a world leader in ESG performance

Regulatory and policy frameworks that:

  • enable fast, efficient and durable environmental approvals while upholding robust environmental protections
  • embed strong ESG practices that enable access to global markets
  • support the sector’s enduring social license to operate
  • fairly share the benefits of critical minerals development with communities, including First Nations Australians.

Unlocking investment in enabling infrastructure and services

Working with states and territories, strategically planned enabling infrastructure and services help develop industrial hubs and link the critical minerals sector to global markets. This reduces costs, lowers project risk and attracts large-scale investment.

Growing a skilled workforce

A skilled, diverse and growing workforce that enables the desired development of Australia’s critical minerals sector, particularly as we move into downstream processing.