In its latest report, the Minerals Council of Australia has released a strategy to support the Australian industry’s successful integration into fast-growing, high-demand global supply chains.
The report, Minerals-plus: An Investment Strategy for a Resource-intensive Future, provides ten key recommendations to leverage Australian mining’s comparative advantage and ensure the industry continues to underpin the nation’s economic future.
The MCA said this would only be possible with internationally competitive tax settings, productive workplace arrangements, streamlined regulatory approvals and expanded trade and investment opportunities.
MCA’s CEO, Tania Constable, said Australia has a brief window of opportunity to meet the government’s ambitions of becoming a clean energy superpower.
“That ambition will only be achieved if Australia doubles down on what it’s best at – producing the minerals and metals required for the clean energy transition.”
Ms Constable said the report is another step forward for government and industry.
“Realising opportunities to value add in mining, minerals processing and advanced manufacturing means creating the business conditions to attract the investment that will boost productivity and future proof the economy.
“Well-targeted policies and public expenditure that improve investment conditions are crucial to enabling private sector capital to do the heavy lifting in achieving the desired outcomes.”
Ms Constable said that with energy demand expected to double by 2050, all technologies – renewables, batteries, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, and nuclear – will be required to meet future energy needs – which is why the report also advocates for the removal of legislative prohibitions on nuclear activities.
“Ensuring that no technology is excluded will be crucial for Australia’s energy security and the success of the government’s Future Made in Australia initiative.”
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