WHY CRITICAL MINERALS ARE NOW CRITICAL TO AUSTRALIA'S SOVEREIGNTY.

This article explores the significance of critical minerals for Australia's sovereignty and economic future. Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, and strategic metals, are crucial for various industries such as battery manufacturing, solar panels, and wind turbines. The author argues that Australia should prioritize manufacturing capabilities to fully benefit from its stronghold in critical minerals. The article also mentions the Biden Administration's Inflation Reduction Act in the US, which aims to strengthen manufacturing and ensure technological leadership over China. The author emphasizes the need for Australia to recognize this economic shift and invest in manufacturing to drive economic growth and resilience. Additionally, the article discusses the risks associated with Australia's current approach of exporting raw minerals to China, suggesting the implementation of a significant tax on raw critical mineral exports to subsidize domestic processing and manufacturing, creating jobs and enhancing Australia's strategic interests. [Extracted from the article]