'AUKUS in action': Minerals Council welcomes US-Australia critical minerals deal
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
More news: The Minerals Council has welcomed the announcement of the new US–Australia critical minerals framework, saying the deal "confirms Australia's fundamental role in the global supply chain of the very minerals, materials and rare earths that the world requires".
The new framework includes a USD1 billion ($1.53 billion) investment from both countries over the next six months to help accelerate and unlock an USD8.5 billion pipeline of critical mineral projects, with a joint commitment to fast-track approvals.
The Minerals Council — the peak industry association representing the Australia's exploration, mining, and minerals processing industry — said the agreement acknowledges the country's strategically important role in the development of new technologies, defence capabilities and renewable energy infrastructure that stem from its available critical minerals.
The council noted that two strategically significant projects have been prioritised under the framework. These comprise the Alcoa–Sojitz Gallium Recovery Project in Western Australia, which is expected to deliver around 10% of the world's gallium supply, and Arafura's Nolans Project in the Northern Territory, set to produce about 5% of rare earths globally.
What they said: "This is AUKUS in action, the embodiment of the original intent of this historic agreement — shared interests, shared defence capabilities, shared minerals and technologies, and importantly, shared investment," the Minerals Council said in a release this morning.
"It is a partnership that will enhance Australia’s reputation as a place to do business, and encourage greater investment in Australian mining and processing, at a time when investment is urgently required to unlock the nation’s next chapter of prosperity."
Penny Wong defends Rudd after Trump tells him ‘I don’t like you either’
The news: Foreign Minister Penny Wong has defended ambassador Kevin Rudd after Donald Trump told him, “I don’t like you either, and probably never will”, during a meeting at the White House.
What they said: Wong told ABC’s AM the remarks were “clearly tongue in cheek” and said Rudd had played a key role in delivering both the AUKUS and critical minerals agreements.
She said “the success of this meeting is in great part due to the work that Kevin Rudd has been doing in the United States”.
According to media reports, Rudd privately apologised to Donald Trump for his past remarks and received a positive response. Trump reportedly said: “All’s forgiven,” according to sources cited by The Sydney Morning Herald.
Earlier, opposition Leader Sussan Ley had told Sky News the exchange showed Rudd’s position was “untenable”, arguing the ambassador had failed to secure timely access to Trump.
“When the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the prime minister is actually laughing at him, I think that tells us all we need to know,” Ley said.
Former ambassador Arthur Sinodinos told Nine’s Today program the incident was unlikely to affect Rudd’s position.
“Clearly, some remarks that Kevin had made in the past got picked up by the president, or he was reminded of them and made his views very clear. I don’t think this means that Prime Minister Albanese is about to junk the ambassador or anything like that.”
Coalition calls for Rudd’s head, blaming Trump tariffs on the ambassador’s past comments
More news: The Coalition has demanded US ambassador Kevin Rudd resign just hours after Albanese’s Trump meeting, implying his past comments about the US president explain tariffs remaining in place.
What they said: Speaking to Sky News, opposition leader Sussan Ley said it was "not reasonable" for Rudd to continue in the role.
"When the ambassador is the punchline of the joke and the prime minister is actually laughing at him I think it tells you all we need to know about the fact it's probably not reasonable he continue on in the role," she said.
"I don't believe he should stay in that role and to see the PM actually laughing at his own ambassador in the room when the president made a joke, I think it's untenable."
Expectations in Canberra were muted about the prospects of a reduction in tariffs ahead of the meeting, given Australia had received a relatively low base rate of 10%.
In a statement on Tuesday morning, Opposition trade spokesman Kevin Hogan claimed Albanese had “failed” to secure a reduction on 50% steel and aluminium tariffs.
Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalised a trade deal, lowering American tariffs on British metals in June, something Hogan stressed Albanese had been unable to achieve.
He implied Rudd, who had been disparaging of Trump before his appointment, was responsible after Trump told the US ambassador: “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will”.
“This is a great disappointment for the 200,000 Australians employed across the steel and aluminium industries, and for the workers and families who depend on them,” Hogan said.
“Ambassador Rudd must be removed. His unprofessional personal comments about the US President are compromising the relationship between Australia and the US.”
Albanese and Trump ink minerals deal as AUKUS gains support and Rudd draws fire
The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump have signed a critical minerals deal at the White House that Albanese said represented a USD8.5 billion pipeline “ready to go”.
Trump said the agreement had been negotiated over several months and said that in a year’s time the countries would have so much critical minerals and rare earths that they’d be worth “USD2”.
What they said: Albanese called the critical minerals agreement “just taking it to the next level” and praised Trump’s role in the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump described Albanese as “a friend,” telling Albanese “It’s a great honour to have you,” also calling the US-Australia alliance one of the strongest.
"As we go forward, I think that today will be seen as a really significant day in our relationship," Albanese said.
Albanese said the deal included a defined USD8.5 billion project pipeline, with Australia and the US to contribute USD1 billion each over the next six months to projects ready to proceed. He outlined three types of projects: joint ventures "such as Alcoa", US-led investments in Australia "including processing", and Australian-led projects, including one involving Japan.
The two leaders also discussed AUKUS. Trump said the deal had been “going too slowly” under the previous administration but was now “really moving along very rapidly.” Trump sounded supportive of the deal, and responded “we are doing that, yes", when asked if the US was expediting the submarines to Australia.
The Pentagon is currently reviewing the original AUKUS framework to “improve it for all three parties” and “clarify some ambiguity” in it, a Trump administration official at the table said when asked by Trump about progress with the pact. “It should be a win-win for all parties,” he said.
"There shouldn't be any more clarifications, because we're just going now full steam ahead," Trump said, adding that while he'd always want more defence spending, Australia's military was "very strong" and was happy with Australia's investment in "magnificent holding pads for the submarines" that are going to be expensive.
US officials present included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while Albanese was joined by Resources Minister Madeleine King, Industry Minister Tim Ayres and US ambassador Kevin Rudd.
In the most uncomfortable moment of the press briefing, a reporter pressed Trump on whether he had concerns about Australia’s climate policy, its position on Palestine, or “bad things” the Australian ambassador to the US had said about him in the past.
Trump responded, "I don't know anything about it. If you said bad then maybe he'd like to apologise." Then turned to Albanese, asking: "Did an ambassador say something bad about me?... Don't, don’t tell me. Where is he? Is he still working for you?”
When Albanese confirmed that Kevin Rudd remained in the role and was sitting across from him at the table, Trump asked: “Did you say bad?” As Rudd began to respond: "Before I took this position Mr President," Trump cut him off with: “Well I don’t like you either. And I probably never will."
The sources: The White House, Kevin Hogan statement
