The Queensland Government has released Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026–30, outlining a coordinated strategy to accelerate critical minerals projects, attract global investment and strengthen the state’s processing and value-adding capabilities.
For Queensland’s explorers, developers and investors, the strategy signals a continued commitment to creating a more competitive and investment-ready critical minerals sector. With a strong focus on improving project pathways, attracting capital and supporting regional development, the strategy has the potential to shape how critical minerals projects progress over the coming years.
Queensland is already home to globally significant deposits of copper, zinc, tungsten, vanadium, phosphate, rare earth elements, gallium and germanium. Combined with the state’s established mining expertise, processing capability, infrastructure and skilled workforce, the Government sees critical minerals as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive economic growth and strengthen Queensland’s position in global supply chains.
Four priorities for Queensland’s Critical Minerals Sector
Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026–30 identifies four priority areas designed to support projects across the critical minerals value chain:
- Delivering projects – streamlining approvals and reducing barriers to help projects progress more efficiently.
- Expanding the value chain – encouraging greater processing and manufacturing within Queensland.
- Securing global investment – improving the state’s ability to attract domestic and international capital.
- Building a strong regional Queensland – supporting regional infrastructure, workforce capability and long-term industry growth.
Key implications for explorers
The most significant aspect of the strategy for explorers is its focus on reducing the time, cost and risk associated with moving projects from discovery towards development.
The Government has identified several initiative designed to improve project certainty, including:
- Faster and more coordinated approvals;
- Expanded pre-competitive geological data;
- Measures to de-risk early-stage projects;
- Whole-of-government assessment teams for priority resource projects; and
- Case management services to help proponents navigate regulatory pathways.
For exploration companies operating in an increasingly competitive investment environment, these initiatives could improve project certainty while making Queensland an even more attractive jurisdiction for future investment.
"Exploration companies are increasingly looking for certainty around project approvals and regulatory requirements. The Queensland Government's focus on streamlining approvals, improving access to geological information and supporting investment readiness is a positive step that could help projects progress more efficiently from exploration through to development. We look forward to following the implementation of these initiatives and keeping our clients informed as further details and opportunities emerge."
Supporting exploration and investment
The strategy recognises exploration as the foundation of every critical minerals project and identifies several initiatives aimed at supporting future discoveries and investment.
- Mineral Acceleration Program to expand pre-competitive geoscience data
- Social, ecological and groundwater baseline studies in emerging project areas
- Junior Miners Investor Readiness Program
- Continuation of the $250 million Queensland Critical Minerals Fund
- Critical Minerals Queensland acting as a central gateway for industry and investors
Strengthening Queensland’s critical minerals value chain
The strategy extends beyond exploration and extraction, with a strong emphasis on capturing greater value within Queensland through processing, refining, manufacturing and other downstream activities.
Investment in common-user infrastructure, including the Queensland Resources Common User Facility in Townsville and the Flexi-Lab at Mackay’s Resources Centre of Excellence, is intended to help proponents test and validate processing techniques and progress projects towards commercialisation.
Regional Queensland is also central to the strategy, with investment in infrastructure, workforce capability and supply chains identified as important to supporting future critical minerals development.
How AMETS can help
Many of the initiatives outlined in Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026–30 will be implemented progressively over the coming years.
AMETS will continue to monitor the rollout of the strategy and keep clients informed as new initiatives, funding programs and regulatory changes are announced. We’ll share updates as implementation details become available and provide practical insights into what they may mean for exploration and mining projects.
As Queensland continues to strengthen its critical minerals sector, experienced tenure and regulatory advice will remain critical to successfully progressing exploration and mining projects.
AMETS Tenements & Geoservices supports explorers, developers and producers across Queensland, and Australia, with:
- Tenement Management
- Geoservices
- Land Access
- Environmental Compliance
- Due Diligence
- GIS and Spatial Services
- Project Marketing
Whether you’re securing new exploration ground, progressing approvals or preparing your project for investment, our experienced team can help you navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence.
For assistance with your exploration or mining project, contact the AMETS team.
