The government initiatives and services on this page include:
Download a summary:
Reach out for early information and support.
The Critical Minerals Office (CMO) is the Australian Government’s central coordination point for growing Australia’s critical minerals sector. We promote secure, reliable and ethical supply of critical minerals, and provide national policy and strategic advice.
We also facilitate industry development by connecting projects with regulators, financing facilities and strategic partners to unlock investment and downstream opportunities.
Austrade offers connections, support, guidance and information for Australian project proponents, international buyers (offtakers) and foreign investors in priority markets. This includes individual services, business missions and promoting critical minerals projects to international investors through the Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus.
Supporting activities up to the pre-feasibility stage.
Geoscience Australia is the nation’s trusted source of information on Australia’s Earth sciences. It empowers decision-making by government, communities and industry.
Geoscience Australia provides precompetitive geoscience data and information to accelerate discovery and development of critical minerals and other resources under the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative.
Access data, maps, tools and publications, including Geoscience Australia’s portal and GeoInsight
Australia Minerals is a collaboration of Australia’s federal, state and territory government geoscience organisations to provide consistent and accessible information, data and analysis to support mineral exploration, development and investment activities across Australia.
The Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) is a collaboration between the national geological agencies of Australia, Canada and the United States. The CMMI aims to advance understanding of global critical mineral systems through critical minerals resource mapping, data sharing and geological analysis.
Data and publications are available through the CMMI interactive portal. This includes a unified deposit classification scheme and a global critical mineral in ores database.
Supporting projects with in-progress or completed pre-feasibility studies.
AusIndustry’s nationwide network of Regional Managers connect businesses with government programs by providing tailored guidance. They will help you navigate support systems and build local partnerships.
The R&DTI encourages companies to invest in eligible R&D that it might not otherwise conduct by offsetting some of the associated costs.
Companies with aggregated turnover of less than $20 million receive a refundable tax offset equal to its corporate tax rate plus an 18.5% premium. Companies with aggregated turnover of $20 million or more receive a non-refundable tax offset equal to its corporate tax rate plus an 8.5% or 16.5% premium.
The CRC Program funds industry-led collaborative research partnerships to solve industry-identified challenges in line with government priorities.
CRC Grants support medium to long-term collaborations, for up to 10 years. CRC Projects Grants support short-term collaborations, for up to 3 years, with a focus on small to medium enterprises.
For example, the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC received funding in 2026 to drive industry-led innovation. It is accelerating the development and commercialisation of new critical metals refining technologies.
Supporting projects with in-progress definitive feasibility studies.
The Investor Front Door makes it easier to develop major transformational projects in Australia. This pilot program guides projects through regulatory pathways and, where needed, helps projects identify suitable government financing opportunities.
The Foreign investment in Australia website provides information on foreign investment approval requirements. You can submit foreign investment proposals via its foreign investment portal.
The Industry Growth Program supports startups, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential to commercialise their ideas, and to transform and significantly scale up their business. The program helps build Australian manufacturing capability across government-identified priority areas, including value-added resources. It provides a free advisory service and merit-assessed matched grant opportunities for SMEs.
Please note the program is currently paused to new applications.
Australia’s environmental law reforms strengthen the process and pathway to approvals for critical minerals projects by delivering faster decisions and more upfront certainty for project proponents. Key reforms include:
Supporting projects with completed definitive feasibility studies.
The $15 billion NRFC has a target investment level of $1 billion for the value-adding in resources priority area. This includes manufacturing products for use in or connection with processing minerals. It provides finance in the form of debt, equity and guarantees.
NAIF is a Commonwealth Government financier, providing concessional loans for the development of infrastructure projects in northern Australia and the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. NAIF supports critical minerals projects in Northern Australia with $500m earmarked funding.
The CEFC invests in mining technology and decarbonisation to support Australia’s transition to lower emissions. This includes supporting critical mineral supply chains.
Export Finance Australia is Australia’s export credit agency and provides financial expertise and solutions to support Australian exports including critical minerals projects and related infrastructure. It supports Australian businesses:
EFA also:
AusIndustry Regional Managers can help you find local, state and Australian Government support programs and connect you with valuable networks including in the critical minerals sector.
Supporting projects from first production onwards.
The CMPTI will support critical minerals processing in Australia with a 10% refundable tax offset to encourage investment. It will be available from 1 July 2027 to 30 June 2040.
Business.gov.au and Austrade provide information for Australian businesses on finding export markets, buyers and sales partners and navigating export rules and tariffs.
