About
Critical minerals are crucial to Western Australia’s economic diversification story.
WA is already internationally recognised as a reliable and ethical exporter of minerals and energy, including critical minerals. This strategy builds upon our established resources industry and advanced processing capabilities, with the aim of capturing more value onshore through activities such as processing and manufacturing higher-value materials and products.
The strategy outlines a number of focus areas, and activities, that will guide the Western Australian Government’s policy decisions into the future.
Vision and goals
Show moreVision: Western Australia will have an internationally competitive, ethical and value adding battery and critical minerals industry that enables global decarbonisation, underpins our economic diversification and delivers meaningful outcomes for regional communities.
Goal 1: Become a destination of choice for critical minerals mining, processing and manufacturing.
Goal 2: Decarbonise global economies by supplying high-ESG critical minerals, materials and products.
Goal 3: Create quality jobs and support positive First Nations outcomes.
Western Australia’s advantages
Show moreAlong with advanced processing capabilities and significant investment across large-scale battery chemicals and rare earth refineries, WA has some of the most significant critical minerals deposits in the world.
Specifically, the State’s comparative advantages include:
Mineral endowment
An abundance and diversity of critical minerals deposits and mines, and significant resource upside potential.
Existing capabilities
A well-established resources industry, including industrial precincts, infrastructure, and services and transport networks.
Reliability
A stable investment environment with low sovereign risk, governed by strong democratic institutions and free market rules.
Ethical standards
Robust and transparent regulatory frameworks, ensuring projects meet high environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.
Target opportunities
Show moreWestern Australia is already a major player in global battery and critical minerals supply chains, mainly as a trusted and reliable supplier of raw materials.
This strategy aims to maintain the competitiveness of our existing industries, while also capturing a growing share of mineral processing and battery chemical manufacturing. The strategy also seeks to support manufacturing of finished products, with vanadium redox flow batteries emerging as a product that could be made locally to support domestic decarbonisation.
In broad terms, WA will:
- Continue to support exploration and mining industries, recognising this is crucial to achieving further value-adding.
- Prioritise critical mineral processing and battery chemical manufacturing, building on our existing strengths to develop further value-adding industries.
- Remain open-minded to opportunities to manufacture finished goods that may be unlocked by increasing local processing and battery chemical manufacturing
Focus areas
Show moreThis strategy identifies six focus areas that will guide the WA Government’s policy decisions to 2030:
- Unlocking investment in enabling infrastructure and project-ready land
- Accelerating research and skills development
- Attracting investment through strategic partnerships and incentives
- Ensuring robust and efficient environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks
- Engaging with and sharing benefits with Aboriginal people and communities
- Continuing to support strategically important projects
Priorities
Show moreThe WA Government will use a targeted approach to implement the strategy, taking action where we are well placed to act, and our efforts will increase investment and maximise outcomes for Western Australia.
In the near-term, the following will be key priorities:
- A robust and more efficient approvals system
- Planning and investment in common-user infrastructure
- Targeted financial support for strategically important projects or industries
