Anthony Albanese to announce $21m to bolster critical minerals sector during his 24th visit to WA

The Prime Minister will make the announcement during his 24th visit to Western Australia, with the state crucial to Labor’s hopes at the next election.

The Albanese government will announce a further $21m for Australia’s critical minerals sector to support hundreds of new jobs and help build a Future Made in Australia.

The funding will go to five projects that will diversify global supply chains for critical minerals and rare earth elements and help grow processing operations and jobs here in Australia.

Anthony Albanese is set to announce the $21m boost to the critical minerals sector to kick off his three-day trip to Perth, with the state of Western Australia critical to Labor’s re-election hopes.

On Friday, the Prime Minister will make his 24th visit to WA.

The funding he is announcing is expected to create nearly 400 new jobs by investing in five projects designed at diversify global supply chains for critical minerals and rare earth elements and help grow domestic processing operations.

A total of $7.39m will go towards a feasibility study into a Speewah Fluorite project in WA’s East Kimerley region, to be conducted by Tivan Ltd.

Anthony Albanese will announce a $21m boost into Australia’s critical mineral sector, which is estimated to create nearly 400 new jobs. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Funding has also been allocated to three Queensland projects: A high-purity vanadium project in Brisbane ($3.8m), the proposed Battery Anode Hub graphic refinery on Townsville ($3m), and a proposed vanadium electrolyte production chain for battery-grade materials in Mount Isa and Townsville.

Australian Rare Earths will also be awarded $5m to support a demonstration plant which produced rare earth elements in Naracoorte in South Australia’s Limestone Coast area.

Mr Albanese said growing Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths industry was key to bolstering Australia’s economy and creating “well-paid local jobs”.

“This funding will support projects across the country, creating opportunities for direct jobs and through the supply chain,” he said.

“Peter Dutton and the Coalition voted against WA last week in the parliament when they refused to vote for Production Tax Credits for the WA resources industry.”

Resources Minister Madeleine King said the funding would help the listed projects achieve their next stage of development, and boost investment into Australia’s renewable and tech industries.

“Critical minerals and rare earths elements are essential components of clean energy technology such as storage batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines, as well as high-technology defence and medical applications,” she said.

“Australia is determined to diversify global supply chains for these crucial materials and to create jobs in Australia in projects that support our path to net zero and the energy and security needs of our trading partners.”

The Prime Minister last hosted his federal cabinet meeting in Perth in September. Picture: NewsWire/ Philip Gostelow

Friday’s visit will be Mr Albanese’s 24th trip to the state as Prime Minister, and occurs just three months after his last week-long trip in September.

Labor holds nine seats in WA, after winning an additional four in 2022, with a 7.4 per cent swing in the state largely boosted by the popularity of Covid-premier Mark McGowan.

However, the Coalition is working to win back seats it lost in the last election, which it will need to do in order to be returned to government.

To do so, it needs to not lose any of its existing 55 seats, and win an additional 21 electorates in order to achieve majority government.

Labor’s decision to end live sheep exports from mid-2028 has also enraged WA-farmers, with community campaign Keep the Sheep rallying a 50-truck convoy outside Parliament House in September in protest.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese to announce $21m to bolster critical minerals sector during his 24th visit to WA