w But whether they like it or not, this country really needs to...

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But whether they like it or not,  this country really needs to come up with a practical means of protecting our valuable mineral resources from those who are prepared to swindle us out of them without a fair return.  Free trade is one thing, but remember one country had no qualms about blocking/taxing our wine, lobster and other export industries (on very scanty grounds), and then there were the Arab cartels and their marketing/supply arrangements to protect and maximise profits from their oil resources and exports.  

We might be blessed with valuable natural assets like battery metals and iron ore, but our resources won't last forever and we either have to fund exploration and development of new reserves or at least play a major controlling role in adding value to them here in this country.