Act now or fall behind: Australia’s chance to lead in the race for critical minerals
At a glance
As the global race for critical minerals intensifies, Australia stands at a pivotal crossroads. The 2025 World Expo Critical Minerals Symposium in Japan brought together government, investors and industry leaders to explore how Australia can become a trusted supplier of critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) - essential for the energy transition.
What investors want: Speed, scalability and government endorsement
Speed and scalability: The decisive edge
International investors, especially from Japan and neighbouring countries, are seeking partners who can quickly deliver high-quality critical minerals at scale. Australia’s developers face long lead times to build complex capabilities, while competitors accelerate supply by exporting concentrated commodities for offshore processing.
To remain competitive, Australian producers must prioritise export-ready operations in the short term. This approach attracts early investment and lays the groundwork for future downstream processing as renewable energy infrastructure and market conditions mature.
Government endorsement: Building investor confidence
Financial modelling and feasibility studies are necessary, but not sufficient. Offshore investors want clear and visible commitment from the Australian Government. This commitment must encompass not just financial support, but also active endorsement and prioritisation of early projects. Government leadership in “picking winners” will help position Australia as a reliable supplier and create the confidence needed for further investment.
Charting Australia’s pathway to critical minerals leadership
GHD’s work across the sector provides a clear view of the shared ambition to accelerate Australia’s role as a reliable and sustainable critical minerals supplier. The next step is to create practical pathways that align national ambition with investment readiness: identifying shared infrastructure opportunities, sequencing projects for early success and planning for future downstream processing.
Australia has the geology, expertise and energy resources to be a global leader in critical minerals. The challenge lies in aligning these strengths with the right policy settings and investment environment. By removing barriers, strategically sequencing development and investing in enabling infrastructure, Australia can position itself at the forefront of the global critical minerals supply chain.
Collaboration between government, industry and investors will be essential to achieving this vision.