Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List 2026 review issues and consultation paper [138KB PDF]
Overview
To ensure Australia remains focused on the minerals and materials that matter most, we are reviewing the Critical Minerals List and Strategic Materials List. The Critical Minerals List was last updated on 16 February 2024.
Australia’s Critical Minerals List contains minerals:
essential to modern technologies, economies and national security
for which Australia has geological potential for resources
in demand from Australia’s strategic international partners
vulnerable to supply-chain disruption.
Australia’s Strategic Materials List contains minerals that are important but do not meet all the criteria for inclusion on the Critical Minerals List.
We are seeking responses to a consultation paper to help us decide if and how to change the content, structure or purpose of the lists.
The paper includes:
the scope and purpose of the review
background on the lists, their purpose and how they relate to Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy
guidance on what kind of input we are seeking from stakeholders.