The Queensland government has launched a five-year roadmap aimed at boosting the state’s critical minerals sector, positioning the state to capture surging global demand and reinforce international supply chains.
Titled Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026-30, the roadmap outlines the state’s vision to accelerate the extraction, refining, and export of high-value strategic resources.
Backed by a AU$146 million State Budget investment, the plan seeks to grow the local resources sector, build sovereign capability, and attract new international capital to regional areas.
Queensland holds significant reserves of critical minerals, supported by established refining infrastructure, mining expertise, and a skilled workforce.
The strategy aims to leverage these core assets as global trading partners restructure their supply lines away from volatile trade environments.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last stated the plan lays the groundwork for Queensland to expand beyond supplying raw materials into downstream processing and manufacturing.
“We’ve seen the impact that recent geopolitical uncertainty and export restrictions have had on global supply chains and the need for secure and reliable sources of strategic resources,” Last said.
“The Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026-30 sets out key actions to grow Queensland’s value chain to expand processing, refining and manufacturing to build a global supply chain that is shielded from externalities.”
Last added that global demand offers a transformative economic opportunity for the state.
“The world is knocking on Queensland’s door, and we are ready to capitalise on this generational opportunity that will deliver long-term jobs and economic opportunities to regional Queensland,” he said.
“We have the resources, industrial capability, energy and importantly, the will to deliver critical minerals to the world and get this done.”
The government stated the initiative forms part of its broader economic agenda to restore investor sentiment and strengthen the foundations of the mining sector’s future.
