Federal

Australia’s mining and mineral exploration industry makes an incredible contribution to our nation’s economy and long-term prosperity.

• Australia’s resource and energy export values are forecast to be $459 billion in 2022/23 with earnings from LNG tipped to reach around $90 billion and thermal and metallurgical coal to reach $120 billion.
• Over 255,000 people are currently employed in the Australian mining industry with workforce numbers still growing.
• Lithium exports are set to earn $16 billion in 2022–23, becoming our sixth-largest resource and energy export. 
• Australia’s mining sector makes up 11.1% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
• Global exploration budgets targeting Australia increased 38.8% year over the year in 2021 to $1.90 billion, exceeding the average global budget growth rate of 35.0%.

The industry is also investing in community partnerships and projects across the country, ensuring that the social and community benefits of our industry are shared.

Australia remains one of the world’s leading mining jurisdictions, and one of the best locations for investing in mineral resources. These resources include the minerals used for infrastructure development and energy provision around the world. Australia is also well-placed to meet the growing need for critical minerals, which are essential to high-tech digital technologies and the advanced energy systems of the future.