Australia passes hydrogen, critical minerals bill amid industry setbacks

Resource minister says country can realize a premium for its products

20250511 lithium australia

Australia has passed support for lithium producers at a time when depressed prices are making it even more difficult to compete with China. © Reuters

SHAUN TURTON

CANBERRA -- Australia's ruling Labor Party has passed a centerpiece of its industrial policy through Parliament, paving the way for subsidies for critical minerals processors and hydrogen producers.

However, the passage on Monday night through the Senate comes as those industries face major challenges, raising doubts about Australia's ambitions to shift its economy away from "dig-and-ship" bulk commodities and fossil fuels toward value-added industries feeding the global energy transition.

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