Minerals 

We are committed to growing Australia's role as a reliable, sustainable and globally competitive minerals supplier. We’re also building sovereign capability through downstream value-adding and manufacturing.

Australia’s mineral resources are among the richest in the world. 

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solids. There are 3 types of minerals:

  • metals and mineral ores
  • sands
  • gemstones. 

Critical minerals are used to produce the critical technologies vital to modern economies. Like those used in renewable energy and national security.

Read Geoscience Australia's definitions for each mineral.

Accelerating Australia’s critical minerals industry

Critical minerals

We are growing our critical minerals sector to make Australia a world-leading producer of raw and processed critical minerals. Find investment opportunities, funding and initiatives.
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Critical Minerals Office

The CMO is the Australian Government's central coordination point for critical minerals. It provides national policy and strategic advice and facilitation services for industry.
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Regulating minerals

Regulating offshore mineral exploration and mining  

We regulate mineral activity in Australian waters under the Offshore Minerals Act 1994.

Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine  

Ranger is a uranium mine about 260 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT).

Taxes, royalties and export controls on minerals and petroleum

Companies that extract mineral and petroleum resources must pay taxes and royalties. Companies who export minerals must meet requirements.

Find funding and opportunities

Minerals sector initiatives and services

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Latest news

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Minister for Resources Madeleine King signs the bilateral agreement with France’s Minister for the Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher.
Critical Minerals Office

Australia and France sign bilateral agreement on critical minerals

The Bilateral Dialogue on Critical Minerals signals stronger cooperation between the 2 countries.
Wind turbines in the outback at sunset
Critical Minerals Office

Australia’s Critical Minerals List: have your say

We want to hear your thoughts on updating our list of critical minerals. Submissions close 17 August 2023
A group of people in business attire standing at a large, open plan exhibition stand at the 2023 World Mining Congress. The stand displays the Australian Government’s green and gold ‘Nation Brand’, including a kangaroo and decorative elements representing Australia’s rivers and bush tracks.

Team Australia at the 2023 World Mining Congress

We led a whole-of-government presence at the 2023 World Mining Congress in Brisbane, highlighting government support for the resources sector.
Wind turbines in the outback at sunset
Critical Minerals Office

New Critical Minerals Strategy to shape Australia’s clean energy future

The strategy supports the transition to net zero while growing our critical minerals and downstream processing industries.
Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre (PAIGC)

Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre grant: expression of interest

We are running a competitive grant process to select an entity to deliver the new centre. Grant guidelines are now available. We are accepting expressions of interest.