Might as well post the article:Federal Resources Minister...

Might as well post the article:

Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King has told a defence conference that Australia’s critical minerals are vital for regional and global security.

The minister addressed an auditorium packed with defence officials at the Indian Ocean Defence and Security 2024 conference.

Those in attendance included Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Minister for Defence Personnel Matt Keogh and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy.

Regional security role

The minister told the large audience that, as the leading reserves holder and producer of key critical minerals and energy sources, Australia is playing a key role in global and regional security.

“Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium, the third largest producer of cobalt and the fourth largest producer of rare earths [and] I believe we have a responsibility to provide the world with an alternative source of critical minerals for the global energy transition,” she said.

“Just as providing energy security to the region is an important role Australia fulfils, supporting our critical minerals and rare earths industry is a down payment on Australia taking responsibility to lead on critical minerals globally.”

Global responsibility

Ms King said that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government accepts this responsibility.

“We understand how important critical minerals and rare earths are to our economy, our future energy supplies and our security.”

She added that nations around the globe have recognised the importance of Australia’s strategic position as a leading critical minerals and rare earths producer.

Secure supply chain

“Last year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and I met with US President Joe Biden in Washington to further our co-operation on critical minerals and rare earths under the newly-formed Australia-US Critical Minerals Taskforce,” Ms King said.

“I have met with leaders from the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Korea and India, all of whom are seeking secure supplies of critical minerals and rare earths.”

“This extraordinary level of interest in our critical minerals endowment from international leadership at the highest levels goes to show how other countries are thinking about these mineral resources for their future energy and security needs.”

Weapons development

The minister said Western Australia’s resource riches are of particular importance.

“WA holds reserves of almost all the critical minerals and rare earth elements that are essential inputs to the advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence industries of our allies and partners,” she said.

“They are absolutely essential across a spectrum of national capabilities for the advanced technology of the future.”

Minister King told the defence industry-filled audience that rare earths, for example, are used in advanced fighter aircraft, submarines and weapons guidance systems.

“The world’s most advanced fighter jet requires more than 400kg of rare earths,” she said.

“Each Arleigh Burke guided-missile destroyer needs more than 400kg of rare earths. Each Virginia Class submarine needs over 4 tons of rare earths.”