May
Qld shoots down gas reserve idea if it means bailing out Victoria
The east coast’s major gas supplier, Queensland, pushes back against an eastern reservation and doubles down on criticism of southern state’s energy policy.
East coast gas reserve in Albanese government’s sights
Canberra is likely to consider establishing an eastern cache as part of a sweeping review of the country’s energy system.
Emboldened LNG giants push for more supply as North West Shelf looms
Woodside and Santos bosses have warned that ideological opposition to gas projects is scaring off investment and risks undermining Asia’s energy transition.
Labor says Woodside not blameless for six-year North West Shelf delay
Resources Minister Madeleine King suggests the company had changed its proposals, adding to the “mind-boggling” time it has taken to approve the LNG project
King reveals details of critical minerals stockpile, vows it will pay
Australian miners will not be compelled to sell critical minerals into the federal government’s stockpile, though the resources minister believes it will generate revenue for the country.
April
Resources minister hits back at Lynas criticism
Madeleine King has hit back at criticism from Lynas chief executive Amanda Lacaze over plans to create a critical minerals stockpile.
Minerals reserve to be used as leverage with Trump, foreign investors
Access to the critical minerals reserve will be used to woo foreign investment and negotiate with the Trump administration on tariffs.
March
Dutton’s ‘moronic’ NW Shelf pledge raises legal risk, says government
Resources Minister Madeleine King argues circumventing due process would open the door to legal claims of apprehended bias.
Australia turns to McDonald’s diplomacy in Trump trade war
The industry and federal government are alarmed that beef and lamb exports and pharmaceuticals could be next in Trump’s firing line as early as April 2.
US rejected Australia’s critical minerals offer, but Labor to persist
Australia has given up on steel and aluminium, but the focus is now on avoiding tariffs on agricultural products and pharmaceuticals.
February
Homesick FIFO workers earning $190k stir talk of Pilbara unionisation
Sweeping industrial relations changes have inflamed fears among miners that the Pilbara will revert to its recalcitrant past. Unions want a seat at the table in the resource-rich region.
January
Drilling for ‘natural hydrogen’ an enormous opportunity: Labor
Naturally occurring hydrogen has been detected in Tumut and parts of western NSW, raising government hopes it can be extracted from the ground like natural gas.
November 2024
Albanese hopes to persuade China, US against a trade war
Ahead of world leaders’ meetings in South America, the PM says Australia’s middle-power status gives it influence with the two superpowers.
October 2024
Net zero push at risk without Australian critical minerals: King
Resources Minister Madeleine King says mining has improved its reputation but must keep working at it to counter efforts by the Greens and others to tear it down.
Luring investment in Aussie hydrogen a tough task: King
Resources Minister Madeleine King says drawing Japanese investment in Australian hydrogen projects was difficult because of existing global subsidies.
Gas ignites fight over energy future
Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists there is no reason to underwrite gas projects, but the Coalition and some experts say the technology is essential.
Korean takeover battle could be an electoral headache for Labor
The government is closely watching the fight for Korea Zinc because of the company’s extensive renewables and hydrogen assets in Australia.
September 2024
Not pulling the climate trigger shows needle Labor must thread
Anthony Albanese has overruled Tanya Plibersek on a deal with the Greens because he doesn’t want to hang a lantern over what a Labor-Greens minority government might entail for the mining industry, especially in WA.
King to foreigners: start digging for critical minerals
Industrialised countries including Australia will be more interventionist in directing investment to strategic resources projects to break China’s stranglehold.
Why Australia’s miners are so alarmed by Albanese
The powerhouse industry is aghast at the government’s policies on industrial relations and environmental changes and has broken diplomatic cover to say so.