Phosphate Hill sells for just $1

Deloitte: Australia’s mining industry ‘in the eye of the storm’ The mining industry is at a critical crossroads — produce more while decreasing spend, using less and working faster.These expectations are real and miners need to learn to walk the tightrope as the entire world watches from the stands.Companies are redefining how they create and share value as governments seek to strike balance between industrial, defence and energy security strategies while communities call on miners to contribute meaningfully and uphold stringent ESG standards.With minerals and metals for the energy transition and advanced technologies more in demand than ever, the question is no longer whether the industry can supply the materials that power global progress, but how it can do so in a way that improves all global systems.Deloitte’s 18th annual edition of Tracking the trends, explores how mining and metals organisations and their broader ecosystem of collaborators can harmonise using practical pathways to evolve from simply extracting value to collectively creating it.Identified as the trend most likely to impact the industry over the next 12 to 18 months, critical minerals are now at the centre of national security discussions worldwide.Over the past decade, mining and metals companies have come under mounting pressure to meet heightened minerals demand generated by global electrification and now, national security imperatives layer urgency and complexity onto those expectations.Combined with rising geopolitical pressures, market signals are now increasingly entangled with political considerations. For governments and companies across the globe, this has emphasised how fragile supply chains have become.Trade fragmentation is also accelerating, as global growth was projected to slow to 2.3% in 2025 due to rising barriers and policy uncertainty and the World Economic Forum estimates the cost of global financial system fragmentation to currently sit between $.85t and $7t .True transformation will likely depend upon cooperation across sectors — creating the trust, agility and shared vision needed to turn complexity into collective progress.Deloitte Australia mining and metals leader Nicki Ivory says the trends impacting the mining and metals sector feel almost unprecedented, and Australia is in the eye of the storm.“Our abundant critical mineral supply, once seen primarily as an energy transition enabler, is now at the centre of global national security discussions,” she said.“Companies are expected to balance powering clean energy with reinforcing defence strategies, all while meeting growing consumer demand.”ESG factors are now more than just corporate buzzwords. They have become business-critical priorities, as investors, regulators and customers demand greater transparency and accountability on sustainability metrics.Companies that align commercial ambition with societal and environmental value creation tend to perform better, innovate faster and endure longer. This means collaborating to reduce emissions in operations, regenerate nature, strengthen regional infrastructure and develop future workforces.Companies are increasingly expected to play a dual role to power the energy transition and simultaneously reinforce national defence strategies all while maintaining pace with ever-increasing consumer demand and abiding by industry ESG standards.Advanced technology integration, including the use of AI systems, is also expected to have a dramatic effect across the sector, from redefining exploration to the next evolution of human resources.“The exponential growth of AI is presenting transformative opportunities to elevate operational resilience and competitiveness by boosting productivity and revolutionising mineral discovery,” Ms Ivory said.“Off-site, the arrival of agentic AI is forcing a rethink of how workforces should be structured in a world where humans and agents work side by side.“Together with other technologies, AI is accelerating the impetus for organisations to optimise their own performance through smart operations — fully connected ecosystems where assets, systems and people work together in real time to make mining safer, faster and more reliable.”The industry has been out of step with many community and environmental expectations due to the traditional focus on producing high volumes for as little cost as possible.In this new era of heightened scrutiny, shifting societal values and rapid technological transformation, mining companies increasingly recognise that a clear purpose that aligns with stakeholder values is crucial for business growth.With shifting market demand and rapid new advances in technology and exploration, opportunities are limitless for the future of the Australian resources sector — if miners can reach an equilibrium.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) paid $14.3b globally in taxes and royalties during 2025 according to its most recent Taxes and Royalties Paid Report. Of the total taxes and royalties paid, $9.5b was paid in Australia — including corporate tax paid of $5.8b — and significant payments were also made in Chile, the US, in Mongolia and Canada. Higher tariffs on primary aluminium exports from Canada to the US, including the removal of the 10% tariff exemption from March 2025, resulted in about $1.45b  in additional tax payments in the US.  Higher profits at Escondida resulted in higher corporate tax payments in Chile and increased copper production and prices at Oyu Tolgoi resulted in higher royalty payments in Mongolia. Rio Tinto chief financial officer Peter Cunningham says the taxes and royalties Rio pays to governments are an important contributor to the economic health and development of the regions where it operates. “We seek to operate responsibly everywhere we work,” he said.  “Our payments to governments can be significant for national budgets and to support development priorities, while our voluntary social investment also allows communities to invest in their own social and economic development for years to come. “We continue to be a leader in transparent tax reporting, voluntarily publishing detailed information on our taxes and royalty payment to governments for over 15 years." Rio also spent a record $19.7b with more than 6,000 Australian suppliers in 2025 — a $2b increase on the previous year. $12.1b of that was spent with WA suppliers as Rio advances development of its replacement mines in the Pilbara. A record $1.1b was spent with Indigenous businesses, including A$820m with Traditional Owner businesses. Rio Tinto iron ore chief executive Matthew Holcz says Rio’s suppliers are fundamental to its operations.  “We are proud to acknowledge the vital role these Australian businesses play in creating jobs, strengthening local economies and supporting our business,” he said. "Stronger local supply chains build stronger communities, and in turn, a stronger nation.”

Newmont (ASX: NEM) has halted underground operations at its Cadia gold mine following a 4.5-magnitude earthquake in the area last night.In a statement, Newmont said there had been no reported injuries.“Safety procedures functioned effectively and all underground personnel were accounted for and progressively returned above ground,” the company said.Underground operations have been paused while specialist teams undertake inspections and assessments.Two aftershocks of magnitude 2.4 and 2.2 were recorded in the area after the initial earthquake.

Liberty Bell Bay in Tasmania, one of billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s last remaining Australian assets, has entered voluntary administration.The Tasmanian Government is actively engaging with the appointed administrators, receivers and key stakeholders to follow developments at the smelter and its implications to the state.In early March, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) lodged an application to the Supreme Court of NSW to wind up operations at Liberty Bell Bay following its failures to lodge annual financial reports for five consecutive years.The smelter has been operating at a limited capacity since May despite being granted a $20m loan from the Tasmanian Government in August to purchase 48,000t of ore to facilitate its restart.In late January, the Tasmanian Government confirmed that Liberty Bell Bay had repeatedly defaulted on repayments and breached the loan agreement terms.Tasmanian Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis says the news will be difficult for workers, their families and the local community who have already endured prolonged uncertainty.“GFG has failed to deliver on its commitments to restart operations and provide certainty to Tasmanians,” he said.“We understand that administrators have been appointed with the intention of stabilising the business and testing the market for a potential sale or recapitalisation.“We will carefully consider all available options, with a clear focus on securing the best possible outcome for workers, the Bell Bay region and Tasmania’s industrial future.”Liberty Bell Bay is the latest in a trail of resource assets led by Mr Gupta across Australia that have fallen into administration.In February, Mr Gupta placed Tahmoor coal mine into voluntary administration in an effort to prevent creditors, led by Coal Mines Insurance (CMI), from forcing liquidation of the asset over unpaid insurance claims.In 2025, the South Australian Government forced Whyalla Steelworks’ operator OneSteel Manufacturing into administration to avoid it becoming “irredeemable” under Mr Gupta who was the previous owner.