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Brad ThompsonMining reporter

Brad Thompson is The Australian’s mining reporter, covering all aspects of the resources industry and based in Perth.

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FRESH LAND: The Queensland Government has opened tenders today for five fresh areas of land for mineral exploration in the Bowen Basin.

The critical minerals boom is not showing up in mining capex

Australia has 124 critical minerals projects trapped in limbo as investors abandon the sector for gold despite government promises to boost strategic mining.

Clive Palmer's dispute with the ATO over Covid medication

Palmer’s Covid drug donation behind tax dispute

Clive Palmer spent millions on experimental Covid drugs in the ‘national interest’ but the tax office won’t let him claim it as a deduction.

Collapsed transmission infrastructure on Western Power's Kondinin to Merredin line. Picture: Western Power

Lynas resigned to DIY power rig after blackouts strangle production

A single transmission line stretching about 600 kilometres currently supplies Kalgoorlie with its power. Its unreliability just cost rare earths producer Lynas one month’s worth of output.

No dealMining & Energy

23/10/2025: Charmian Ross McEwan and CEO Mike Henry at the BHP AGM . The 2025 AGM of BHP Group Limited held at The Ritz-Carlton, 650 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 on Thursday 23 October 2025, starting at 10:00am Picture: supplied

BHP abandons second tilt for rival Anglo American

Mike Henry-led BHP is facing questions about its strategy and direction after abandoning its latest takeover bid for Anglo American.

ExclusiveMining & Energy

Mineral Resources Limited managing director Peter Wade at side production in Bibra Lake in Perth, Western Australia.

MinRes insider breaks silence on Ellison scandals

Mineral Resources’ founding chairman admits ‘detrimental’ actions damaged the company while defending embattled managing director Chris Ellison’s leadership.

miningMining & Energy

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 14, 2025: Treasurer Jim Chalmers during a press conference at the Opera House on Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Rare earths player refers China concerns to FIRB

Northern Minerals has uncovered evidence Chinese investors may have defied Treasury orders to sell their shares, forcing the rare earths company to delay its AGM.

Mat and Sue Daubney, of Bannister Downs Dairy, and Gina Rinehart. ,

Rinehart says net zero is a bad policy founded on economic lies

Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart has backed the Liberal Party’s net zero backflip, declaring the emissions target a bad policy making farming more difficult and expensive.

MiningMining & Energy

BHP MINE in WA. Western Australia Iron Ore Jimblebar, WA Picture - BHP

‘Negotiating tactic’: China widens BHP iron ore ban

China’s state-backed minerals group has banned steel mills from buying a second BHP iron ore product as negotiations over pricing and terms remain deadlocked.

#UPSCALED# 20/11/2025 : PERTH, AUSTRALIA - Mineral Resources managing director Chris Ellison arrives at the company's annual meeting in Perth on Thursday. Picture: Brad Thompson for The Australian

Ellison reclaims power as MinRes succession timeline binned

Chris Ellison walked into the MinRes AGM through the front doors unlike last year, when he entered through an underground carpark. He will be staying on longer after a succession agreement was binned by chairman Mal Bundey.

MiningMining & Energy

Chris Wallin's QCoal has swung to a loss.

Coal barons count the cost of Queensland royalties

Queensland’s coal industry faces a ‘perfect storm’ as mining giants report massive profit slides while paying record dividends and demanding royalty relief.

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/brad-thompson