Rare earths
Exclusive
Political lobbying
Albanese’s $22.7 billion spendathon a lobbyist honeypot
The rise of a new class of lobbyists with close access to political leaders has heightened concerns about the power of the top players in Canberra.
- by David Crowe
Latest
China’s global grip on rare earths an ‘uncomfortable reality’
An Australian miner is hoping to change the playbook on critical minerals, warning that China’s stranglehold of the sector is an existential threat to Western countries.
- by Simon Johanson
Rare earths miner Northern Minerals hit by hackers
The stolen information includes the miner’s corporate, operational and financial information, as well as some details of current and former employees and some shareholder information.
- by David Swan and Simon Johanson
Opinion
Opinion
In the rare earths Game of Thrones, Gina Rinehart grabs the crown
The federal government declared “the road to net zero runs through Australia’s resources sector”, and Rinehart will be hoping for a decent spoonful from the profit pot at the end of that road.
- by Elizabeth Knight
Rio Tinto says global economy resilient, inflation easing despite patchy China
Shipments of its key commodity iron ore fell over the past three months as bad weather disrupted Rio’s ports, the mining giant said.
- by Simon Johanson
Australian mining ‘under assault’ from China, US ambassador says
America’s national security and the health of the planet depended on commodities managed by Australia, Caroline Kennedy told Paydirt Battery Minerals Conference in Perth.
- by Marion Rae
Exclusive
Mining
Miner backed by Rinehart broke environmental rules amid $840m in federal loans
Arafura Rare Earths, which counts mining billionaire Gina Rinehart’s company as a key investor, admitted to proceeding with part of a project before it gained government approval.
- by David Crowe
Exclusive
ALP
Alannah’s back: MacTiernan registers as lobbyist but isn’t ‘open for business’
The former state Labor minister and federal MP insists she placed herself on the register out of an abundance of caution after starting a new job.
- by Hamish Hastie
Race for critical minerals boom to test government’s mettle
Australia is joining the United States to tackle China’s dominance in key green commodities. But the government faces tough choices to help local industry.
- by Mike Foley
For critical minerals supply we need investment standards, BHP boss warns
Mike Henry said urbanisation, industrialisation and population growth were driving demand for the key minerals. They are also at the heart of US-China competition.
- by Rob Harris
Tesla’s ‘proud Australian’ leader says nation can be a clean manufacturing powerhouse
Robyn Denholm, chair of Tesla’s board, says the Albanese government can create a local battery-making industry with modest tax breaks for investors.
- by Mike Foley