Portfolio — 16 July 2026

The Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Farrell, joined the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Ms King, in confirming a final investment decision for a gallium production facility at Alcoa's Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia — a trilateral commitment backed by Australia, Japan and the United States [TA-260715-trade-c6caaca77cbe]. The facility will produce approximately 100 tonnes of gallium per year, equivalent to roughly 10 percent of current global demand, targeting end-uses in semiconductors, advanced electronics and defence applications [TA-260715-trade-c6caaca77cbe].

Financing flows through Export Finance Australia under the Critical Minerals Facility, with Alcoa responsible for construction and operation. Senator Farrell framed the investment as strengthening Australia's standing as a trusted global supplier and enhancing supply-chain resilience through the Japan and United States partnerships [TA-260715-trade-c6caaca77cbe].

Ms King characterised the announcement as evidence of the government's determination to lead on critical minerals while generating Australian jobs and export opportunities. The portfolio's consistent framing positions critical-minerals projects as instruments of national security and economic diversification — not merely resource export plays. The trilateral structure of this deal is notable: it reflects the government's strategy of embedding critical-minerals agreements within existing security and trade partnerships rather than pursuing standalone bilateral arrangements.

Gallium is a strategic chokepoint mineral — China controls the overwhelming majority of global refining capacity — and a facility producing 10 percent of world supply at an existing Australian alumina refinery represents a material shift in allied supply-chain exposure.