The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold its first public hearing on Thursday, 26 March, as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.
The Committee will hear from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), whose submission highlights the role of critical minerals within the Australian Government's $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia Plan (FMA). DISR notes that 'critical minerals are a cornerstone of the FMA, with critical minerals processing identified as a priority under the National Interest Framework due to its supply chain vulnerabilities'. The DISR submission also highlights the potential growth from increasing raw exports of critical minerals, and the further opportunities in expanding downstream refining and processing.
Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said: 'Critical minerals are a cornerstone of the modern economy—critical to developments in AI, defence and renewable energy. They present enormous opportunities for Australia, but also real challenges. Ensuring the social licence of critical mineral projects will be key to maximising benefits while minimising impacts.'
