Critical: Australia names it's Most Important Rare Earths and Minerals

As the world's population becomes increasingly reliant on critical minerals to make technology from smart phones to car parts and even weapons, the resource has become a matter of national security.

Mixture of critical minerals (United States of America definition), or critical raw materials (European Union definition). Flatlay on slate background Source: iStockphoto / BJP7images/Getty Images

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Critical: Australia names it's Most Important Rare Earths and Minerals

SBS Indonesian

05:42Indonesian

Gallium, antimony and rare earths have been listed as priority resources for Australia's 1.2 billion dollar critical minerals reserve.

Antimony can be used in a number of ways, including to harden bullets and as a component of missile guidance systems and night-vision goggles.

Gallium is also important for military equipment, including as a component of advanced radar systems.

The reserve also allows the Federal Government to buy minerals from Australian mines and sell to other nations.

In October 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed the Critical Minerals Framework deal for critical minerals with the Trump Administration in the US.

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