2026 Pre-Election Policy Priorities | A Resources Sector Roadmap
Critical Minerals & Metals Supply Chain Development

SACOME acknowledges the significant momentum at Federal and State level for the development of critical minerals and metals supply to meet both energy transition, advanced manufacturing and defence sector supply chain demand, and economic growth and security objectives.

​Federal and State policy alignment, together with funding mechanisms present a window of opportunity to catalyse development of South Australian critical mineral supply chains.

SACOME acknowledges the significant momentum at Federal and State level for development of critical minerals and metals supply to meet decarbonisation, energy transition and green industry transformation goals.
 
Federal and State policy alignment, coupled with funding made available through mechanisms like Future Made in Australia, the State Prosperity Project, the national Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve and the $2billion US-Australia Critical Minerals Framework present a window of opportunity to catalyse development of South Australian critical mineral supply chains.
 
SACOME calls for development of a Critical Minerals & Metals Supply Chain Strategy to:
 

• Coordinate development of South Australia’s endowment of critical minerals and metals, including: copper, magnetite, rare earths, cobalt, lithium, graphite and kaolin.

 

• Grow local refining, processing, and manufacturing to capture more value within the State. Linking South Australian smelting and manufacturing capability with national strategies is a logical next step, noting recent Federal-State investment in the Whyalla Steelworks and Nystar’s Port Pirie multi-metals processing facility.

 

• Complement national critical minerals and metals initiatives to best position South Australia for co-funding, infrastructure investment, and trade support; and ensure that South Australian critical minerals and metals are positioned for use in the energy transition process.

 

• Grow sovereign capability and capacity, the current geopolitical environment and importance of sovereign capability; and the need to decarbonise and transform aged manufacturing and smelting assets in the Upper Spencer Gulf.

 

• Coordinate government-industry activity to access national funding pools, and smaller grant instruments that sit alongside large national funding pools.