Resources & Mining

Australia has huge natural advantages. Our minerals are the envy of the world. We should use them to deliver lower power prices. Stronger industry. Stronger regions. Real energy and fuel security for families and businesses.

Labor has buried mining, gas and oil projects under red tape, delays and ideology. That is costing us jobs. It is costing us money. It is costing us energy security.

The Nationals have always backed our miners and oil and gas workers. Strong mining means strong jobs. Stronger regions. A stronger Australia.

We will keep backing our world class coal industry. It pays billions in taxes and royalties. That money funds essential services and supports country towns.

The Nationals will scrap net zero and bring back energy abundance. We will use the resources we already have. Coal, gas, oil and renewables. We will get the economy moving.

Our metal makers face rising costs. Steel, aluminium, zinc and copper smelting. Taxpayer subsidies have grown into the billions under net zero rules.

Under Labor, gas shortages and high prices are a threat to jobs and Australian industry. They push up costs at the checkout and on power bills. Our plan backs practical steps to unlock new gas. Australians need reliable and cheap supply for years to come.

That means faster approvals and less duplication. Cut approval times while keeping standards high. Set firm limits on delays.

It also means stopping taxpayer money being used to block major projects. We will end Commonwealth funding for the Environmental Defenders Office.

Under Labor, it takes an average 16 years from discovery to production. We will cut red and green tape. We will fix the approvals system. We will get key national projects approved and built faster. All while keeping standards high.

The Nationals will back exploration. That unlocks the next wave of mines, oil and gas. That underwrites our economic and energy security.

We will bring back the Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive with $100 million. That unlocks the next wave of projects and brings in private money.

We will reverse Labor’s EPBC changes. They are blocking money and holding up key projects. We will fast track major energy projects. That includes coal, oil and gas. So they are approved and built faster.

And we will designate uranium as a critical mineral.

Finally, we will create National Strategic Priority Projects. These will speed up work that is critical to our sovereign capability. The first one identified is the Taroom trough in April.