Critical Minerals Office  

We provide project facilitation services for industry and policy and strategic advice for government to help develop Australia’s critical minerals industry.

The Critical Minerals Office is the Australian Government's central coordination point to:

  • help grow Australia's critical minerals sector
  • position Australia globally as a secure, reliable and ethical supplier of critical minerals.
Critical Minerals Office logo

We are the Australian Government's central coordination point to:

  • grow Australia’s critical minerals sector
  • position Australia as a secure, reliable and ethical supplier of critical minerals
  • provide national policy and strategic advice on critical minerals
  • connect Australian critical minerals projects to investors, regulators, government financing facilities and Australia's strategic partners.

Our key activities include:

  • supporting research and development in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Geoscience Australia
  • promoting investment and identifying opportunities in partnership with Austrade and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • ensuring Australia’s policy and regulatory settings support investment and unlock downstream opportunities
  • improving access to information about regulatory approvals, funding and investment
  • facilitating strategically important critical minerals projects
  • partnering with other countries to build global supply chains.

Help shape Australia’s new critical minerals strategy

We are seeking feedback to help us formulate Australia’s new critical minerals strategy. Read the discussion paper and make your submission by 3 February 2023.
Have your say

Facilitating critical minerals research

We support research and development in partnership with:

  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)
  • Geoscience Australia.

This includes collaborating on the $50.5 million Australian critical minerals research and development hub.

Partnering on global supply chains

We’re working across government and with international partners to help address supply chain risks, advance research and promote ethical, sustainable practice.

This includes:

  • bilateral agreements with the USA, UK, India, France, Germany, Republic of Korea, and Japan
  • leading work to set technical standards and ensure good governance.

We also maintain an active presence in multilateral initiatives, including:

  • Minerals Security Partnership
  • IEA Critical Minerals Working Party
  • Conference on Critical Material and Minerals
  • Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
  • Energy Resource Governance Initiative.

Latest news

More critical minerals news
Tianqi Lithium Kwinana - Image credit Gary Peters Photography

Critical Minerals Development Program: virtual information session replay

We’ve published a recording and transcript of the virtual information session for the Critical Minerals Development Program that took place on 25 January 2023.
Tianqi Lithium Kwinana - Image credit Gary Peters Photography

Critical Minerals Development Program grants now open

Australian businesses and state or territory governments can apply for a co-funded grant of up to $30 million to support early and mid-stage critical minerals projects.
Solar panels, battery storage and wind turbines

Have your say on the future of Australia’s critical minerals

We are seeking responses to a discussion paper that will help shape a new strategy for Australia’s critical minerals. Have your say by 3 February 2023.
Mine workers talking with mining vehicle in the background

Our commitment to developing Australia’s critical minerals sector

The Critical Minerals Development Program will develop our local industry and support our transition to net zero.