WA dubbed ‘clean energy engine room’ as Anthony Albanese heads to Resources Technology Showcase

WA must become the driver of Australia’s clean energy economy, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said as he prepares to get up close and personal with the mining sector at one of its biggest industry showcases. Ahead of touching down in Perth late on Saturday, the Prime Minister reiterated his support for the State to play a crucial role in his government’s second-term agenda to build the nation’s green energy future. Mr Albanese is to on Sunday attend the Resources Technology Showcase — an interactive three-day event — in his 36th trip to WA since winning office. “As we undertake the transformation of the clean energy economy here — WA must be a driver of it,” he told The Sunday Times. “WA is the engine room of our national economy.” “While the government has an important role to play, we know it will be industry that drives the major developments to decarbonise the sector. “My Government is committed to supporting these industry-led efforts.” The PM included a raft of top resources executives in his official visit to China in July for a Shanghai roundtable on green steel. BHP’s Geraldine Slattery, Rio Tinto’s Kellie Parker, and Fortescue’s Andrew Forrest attended and discussed the importance of innovation in mining processes and the adoption of renewable energy to reduce the environmental footprint of resource extraction. The PM said he wanted his government to play a supporting role in that industry transition: “That’s why last month in China we brought together the leaders of Australia’s largest iron ore miners to meet with their Chinese steelmaking counterparts”. “Western Australian resources are literally building the skylines of cities across the world,” he said. Mr Albanese’s comments echo those of Premier Roger Cook who has repeatedly said WA’s future prosperity is connected to the success of critical minerals and clean energy. He’ll be joined at the summit on Sunday by Resources Minister Madeleine King and Perth MP Patrick Gorman. The PM had last attended the showcase in 2023 where he spoke about the need for Australia to move beyond being a “quarry for the world” by accelerating value-adding and processing in critical minerals. He pointed to the potential for Australia to create a more future-ready economy by leveraging its natural strengths in critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt. In the two years since, the Prime Minister has introduced a production credit scheme and, during the most recent Federal Election campaign, announced plans for a $1.2 billion critical minerals stockpile to underpin prices and strengthen Australia’s strategic position. The reserve would allow the government to purchase and store key resources like lithium and rare earths, either to on-sell to trusted international partners or to ensure domestic availability during periods of global volatility. The introduced 10 per cent production tax credit for critical minerals processing is aimed to boost onshore refining of resources like lithium and nickel as part of its Future Made in Australia strategy. “The transition to clean energy has its challenges, but if we seize the opportunities in mining, innovation, industry and trade that we have today, we will set us up for the future,” Mr Albanese said. “Building Australia’s Future means investing now to build our prosperity for the next generation.”