Brad Thompson

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

Latest

Operations at the Caval Ridge coking coal mine in Queensland, owned by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA). Picture supplied by BHP

‘Tens of millions’: BHP sackings tip of corruption iceberg

BHP is investigating allegations contractors were paid millions for non-existent or greatly exaggerated work at its Queensland coal operations, after sacking 26 workers from one site.

Brad Thompson

MiningRenewable energy & economy

Australian businessman Andrew Forrest takes part in a session during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2025. (Photo by FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP)

Fortescue’s US hydrogen project on shaky ground

Donald Trump’s return to the White House casts more doubt over Fortescue’s ‘green’ hydrogen production plans in the US state of Arizona as it assesses its European and South American options.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

BHP's Blackwater coal operations, part of its BVMA asset group. Picture: Supplied by BHP

BHP sacks contractors as its corruption investigation widens

Mining giant BHP’s internal investigation into allegations of corruption involving its Queensland coal operations has led to the sacking of dozens of contractors.

Brad Thompson

ResourcesMining & Energy

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

Copper earnings to underpin BHP’s hit from shrinking iron ore price

BHP’s copper-focused growth strategy is expected to offset the big hit to earnings it will take from soft iron ore prices, when the company releases its half-year results.

Brad Thompson

Trump inaugurationBusiness

Rinehart flags spending spree in ‘non-Left, non-woke’ US

Gina Rinehart says she wants to invest billions in the US on the back of president Donald Trump starting ‘the greatest non-Left, non-woke movement sweeping the world’.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

An autonomous haul truck dumps a load of rock in the mine pit at Rio Tinto Group's Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Australia, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. Rio Tinto is preparing for trials of battery-powered locomotives in Australia, where it uses giant autonomous trains — the world’s largest and longest robots — to transport iron ore across the vast Outback. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Rio counts cost as Pilbara iron ore operations flooded

Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations have suffered another blow as it remains silent about any merger talks it held with Glencore.

Brad Thompson

MiningMining & Energy

MinRes AGM Managing Director Chris EllisonPhoto byline: Courtney McAllister

MinRes on hunt for in-house lawyer

Mineral Resources has restarted the approvals process for a new iron mine as it searches for a senior legal counsel.

Brad Thompson

Trump presidencyMining & Energy

US President-elect Donald Trump reacts during a MAGA victory rally at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, on January 19, 2025, one day ahead of his inauguration ceremony. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

‘Supercharged’ Trump critical to our rare earths hopes

Australia is growing confident of stronger co-operation with the US on critical minerals supply chains as Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Brad Thompson

InvestmentsMining & Energy

(L-R) Adam Giles, Dan Wade, Garry Korte, Gina Rinehart, and Gerhard Veldsman photographed together in Washington, D.C. ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Rinehart’s top bosses on hunt for US investments

Australia’s richest person has taken a high-powered team to hunt for mining and agricultural investment in the US as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House.

Brad Thompson

climatePolitics

Resources Minister Madeleine King has issued a 'lifestyle' warning on green power, as Anthony Albanese prepares to unveil a $2bn plan to help aluminium smelters transition to renewables by 2036.

Minister reveals green transition ‘truth’

Resources Minister Madeleine King warns support for Labor’s renewable transition will evaporate if voters lose their lifestyles, as Anthony Albanese prepares to reveal a plan to get aluminium smelters switched to renewables by 2036.

Brad Thompson

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