Brad Thompson

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

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 05: An aisle of products in a Woolworths Supermarket on September 05, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. Australia is currently facing a severe cost of living crisis, with rising prices for essentials like food, housing, and utilities significantly outpacing wage growth, leaving many households struggling to make ends meet. While over 3.3 million Australians live in poverty, supermarket giants and banks are reporting record profits, highlighting a stark contrast between corporate gains and the financial hardship experienced by everyday citizens. This situation poses serious challenges across the nation, as people navigate the pressures of high inflation and inadequate support. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images)

Investors sweat on GDP numbers

Investors will gain a clearer picture of the state of the economy this week with the release of September quarter gross domestic product figures expected to show only a slight pick-up.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

BHP Billiton's Escondida copper mine in northern Chile. PHOTO: REUTERS

BHP iron ore to bankroll copper crusade

BHP is set to rely even more heavily on its iron ore operations to help pay for growth ambitions in so-called future-facing commodities, with ramifications for its plans in Western Australia.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

Northern Minerals' Browns Range heavy rare earths project. Picture - Supplied

Chinese interests test Treasurer’s rare earths resolve

When Treasurer Jim Chalmers ordered a China-linked fund to offload its stake in Northern Minerals, a Hong Kong-registered entity bought in – but who controls that is a mystery.

Brad Thompson

MININGBusiness

The Tianqi lithium hydroxide plant at Kwinana, south of Perth.

Lithium giant turns to PM for help

The Chinese company that pioneered lithium processing in Australia says the Albanese government needs to intervene now to secure the future of teetering critical minerals supply chains.

Brad Thompson

MININGBusiness

Fortescue Metals Group has ordered a fleet of 120 battery and hydrogen-powered haul trucks from Liebherr for its Pilbara iron ore mines. Pics supplied by Fortescue.,

Fortescue strikes $618m deal with Chinese machinery maker

Fortescue will spend up to $US400m ($618.2m) on equipment from Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group as it hedges its bets on the electrification of its mining fleet.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

Amanda Lacaze, chief executive officer of Lynas Rare Earths Ltd., on the sidelines of the Diggers and Dealers conference in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on Monday, Aug. 1, 2022. Lynas, the only key supplier of the critical minerals outside China, has won further financial backing from Washington to build a plant in the US. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Lynas call for local acid plant support

Lynas Rare Earths is set to ramp up pressure on the Albanese government to help fund a chemical plant in Western Australia as the fallout continues from the collapse of the Australian nickel industry.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

Workers at Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley project in Western Australia. Picture: Supplied

WA Premier defends rescue package for lithium miners

WA Premier Roger Cook says his government’s $150m rescue package for struggling lithium miners is designed to help protect 11,000 jobs across the state.

Brad Thompson

stunning backflipPolitics

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. FEBRUARY 14, 2024: Minister for Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

PM ‘caves in to vested interests’ as he scraps Plibersek deal

Labor’s environmental wing accuses Anthony Albanese of faltering on a key plank of his platform, after the PM killed a deal being finalised by Tanya Plibersek.

Rosie Lewis, Brad Thompson and Rhiannon Down

MININGMining & Energy

Anglo's Moranbah North Mine file shot. Picture: Supplied by Anglo American

Anglo deal shores up its BHP defences

Anglo American has sold its Australian coal mines for well above consensus estimates in a deal analysts say strengthens its hand against BHP.

Brad Thompson

MININGMining & Energy

Wesfarmers Mt Holland lithium mine in Western Australia.

Wesfarmers and LNP clash over production tax credits

Wesfarmers is at odds with the Coalition over its refusal to back legislation aimed at delivering billions of dollars in production tax credits to Australia’s critical minerals sector.

Brad Thompson

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/brad-thompson/page/6