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.
Uranium mine shareholders try to delay Rio Tinto capital raise
The Takeovers Panel confirmed two of the uranium miner’s shareholders are trying to delay an $880 million capital raise backed by major shareholder, Rio Tinto.
BHP’s Labor whisperer goes global
George Wright was most recently the Big Australian’s group corporate affairs officer. But no more.
PM’s secret dinner at mining HQ
Anthony Albanese dined with Chris Ellison and Meg O’Neill on Sunday after the former won a charity prize.
Why Albanese is talking big in WA
The Albanese cabinet is trying to prop up its electoral standing in Western Australia with the promise of new jobs and economic opportunities. The resources sector is highly sceptical of Labor’s agenda.
August 2024
Qantas, BHP warn on wage rises as IR tensions flare
Qantas has hinted at job cuts or fare increases to cover an enforced $60 million wage hike. BHP has reacted after being accused of peddling “hysteria”.
Labor warns on production credits as Libs flag $92b in spending cuts
Resources Minister Madeleine King says the Coalition will risk national security if it revokes production tax credits for critical minerals to fund tax cuts.
Santos gala a gassy second chance for Albo
We regret to inform the federal Labor Party that Woodside is not the only gas major with a milestone birthday this year.