Bringing Governments & Industry Together
The CMAA collaborates with Federal, State, and like-minded Foreign governments to favourably position Australia as a critical minerals superpower by diversifying and creating responsible supply chains and taking advantage of value add opportunities.
The CMAA is the only industry body that focuses solely on critical minerals and the unique challenges faced by Australian explorers, producers, processors, refiners, and the wider ecosystem, operating both domestically and overseas. Critical minerals supply chains are complex, often opaque, and heavily monopolised. This requires a strategic approach to problem-solving that takes a wider view of global trends and developments to ensure that the Australian industry is well-positioned and supported by State and Federal governments to face international competition. It is crucial that Australia is also positioned as an attractive destination for foreign investment.
Critical Minerals Advisory
As we enter the new industrial revolution, propelled by the energy transition, Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to capitalise on its natural endowments. Australia now faces two choices, to continue to be a quarry for the world or to capitalise on the opportunity to capture value in midstream processing and refining. The latter requires symbiotic cooperation between industry and governments, to ensure that Australian industry is resilient, agile, and strategically supported in navigating distorted markets.
Governments must recognise the distinction between the strategic importance of critical minerals in comparison to traditional commodities such as coal, gas, and gold, and their crucial role in shaping Australia's future. The CMAA brings industry experts together to help governments emplace mechanisms and strategies to support the industry in creating alternative, responsible supply chains.
The CMAA conveys the critical minerals industry's collective voice, from explorers through to refiners, finance, legal, and consultants and focuses on key pillars, including:
International competitiveness, agility and resilience
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Australia is heavily dependent on a single nation for financing, technology and off-take agreements, and is competing with its allies to capture more value downstream
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Governments are crucial to providing diplomatic support for Australian companies operating overseas and creating policy frameworks to encourage sovereign capability
Responsible, ESG-driven practices
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Australia can build an international reputation for responsible practices with greater adoption of industry best practice ESG standards on par with Northern Hemisphere investors' and manufacturers' expectations
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Governments can incentivise responsible practices
Capturing strategic and commercial value add opportunities
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Australia can unlock its potential and become a global critical minerals superpower by capturing value via onshore midstream processing and refining
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Governments have a key role to play in creating an enabling legislative and operating environment
Federal Government
The CMAA supports the Federal Government and its Departments in understanding the international as well as domestic critical minerals sector, rapidly evolving supply chain complexities and geopolitical implications.
The Federal Government plays a crucial role in encouraging collaboration between States to ensure Australia is united in benefitting from the increased demand for critical minerals, as well as mitigating challenges, cutting red tape, and building sovereign value add capability.
The CMAA leverages its international network amongst like-minded nations to best position Australian industry and Australia as a premier destination for responsible critical minerals.
State Governments
The energy transition provides States with a unique opportunity to diversify their industries, upskill the workforce, adopt cleaner energy alternatives, and create multi-generational prosperity for all Australians.
The CMAA operates across all States and actively advises on diversification strategies, leveraging existing opportunities and, pragmatically tackling challenges faced by the critical minerals industry and the wider ecosystem. The CMAA also collaborates with State Governments to promote the States internationally, highlighting opportunities for collaboration and investment.
Foreign Governments
Australia's vast mineral wealth, extraction expertise, and responsible practices place it favourably to produce the critical minerals necessary for the energy transition, defence, space tech, medical equipment, agriculture, and emerging technologies.
Increased adoption of renewable energy and ongoing innovation in low-carbon fuel alternatives places Australia as a highly desirable strategic partner. The CMAA helps like-minded foreign governments to better understand the critical minerals landscape.
The CMAA actively supports governments in:
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Helping to navigate government structures, departments, and research institutions
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Facilitating bilateral and multilateral roundtables with governments and industry (including upstream, midstream, downstream, and support services)
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Convening networking events, workshops, webinars, and training courses
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Supporting trade missions, delegations, and diplomatic visits
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Delivering strategic and specialists projects
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Providing advisory on the latest developments in the critical minerals space, politics and geopolitics, and opportunities for collaboration