AOL, congratulations on an insightful letter to the FIRB. As one...

AOL, congratulations on an insightful letter to the FIRB.
As one who for 4 years was assigned amongst others to represent the Department of Industry, Technology & Commerce in numerous FIRB cases whilst in Canberra, I can assure you that the response you received is way better than the open slather of the 80s & 90s where "national interest" was ill-defined and very against downstream processing because the quick export $ of simple extraction was quicker and predetermined. Since the strategic resources policy document was released last year the FIRB has some serious quantitative & qualitative yardsticks to go by. Nowadays the Department of Defence is also a participant and significant influence with the FIRB, something unheard in previous years.
It's never to late and again thanks for your representation to FIRB.
GLTAHs