~ Alan Dupont, The Australian
Rarely does a sparsely populated middle power get to play a leading role on the global stage. But could the continent’s rich critical minerals endowment make Australia a renewable energy superpower and rules maker in a world beset by geopolitical rivalry and the intertwined challenges of energy transition and climate change?
There are many who think so, including the previous and current federal governments. The preface to the 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy declared the Morrison government “is taking action to grow Australia into a critical minerals powerhouse”.
Labor’s just released 2023-30 Critical Minerals Strategy expresses a similar sentiment, albeit with a greener tinge. Resources Minister Madeleine King says: “Australia can play a pivotal role in delivering the processed minerals the world needs for a clean energy future.”