Australian resources minister Madeleine King says mining sector on frontline of climate change battle

Climate-conscious young people should see mining as a career that puts them on the frontline of stopping climate change, according to Resources Minister Madeleine King. Ms King will use a keynote speech to Seven West Media’s Resources Technology Showcase to argue the massive global decarbonisation task hinges on the next generation taking up jobs in the resources sector. The appeal comes after Ms King last week cited a “strong ambivalence” among some young people to mining as a major challenge for the industry as it tries to attract skilled workers. She will argue that reaching Australia’s net zero by 2050 pledge will require more mining, not less, as critical minerals emerge as the fuel that powers the clean energy transition. “Our ongoing prosperity depends on the resources sector,” Ms King will tell the conference, according to pre-prepared remarks seen by The West Australian. “The world needs our young people to consider careers in geoscience, geophysics, chemistry, metallurgy and engineering if we are to decarbonise and stop dangerous climate change. “We need to help young people understand that a career in the resources sector is making a positive difference in the fight against climate change.” The industry is WA’s second largest employer after the public sector, but Ms King will argue even more workers are needed to operate existing mines and build projects that are in the pipeline. “We need to gain the attention of young people for all the right reasons, and show that there are good and valuable careers available to them in resources and to help them understand how a career in resources is helping fight climate change,” she will say. The Government’s latest resources and energy quarterly statement highlighted the massive growth in the value of critical minerals, with export earnings from lithium projected to reach $17 billion in 2024 — a ten-fold increase on just two years ago. Ms King will argue it is “nothing short of a national mission” to ensure Australia maximises its rich deposits of critical minerals, not just to support the clean energy transition but also to help manufacture defence technology. As one example, lithium, cobalt, manganese and graphite are among the materials used for weapons and sensors. Ms King will use the speech to industry leaders to again reaffirm the “critical role” of gas, in another rebuke to the head of petroleum giant Inpex after he claimed Australia was “quietly quitting” the sector. Takayuki Ueda last week argued the Government’s mix of interventionist policies would “choke investment and strangle the expansion” of gas projects in Australia, which would put net zero out of reach and could force countries in the region to turn to Russia, China or Iran to meet their fast-growing energy needs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected the suggestion, telling The West that gas had a critical role to play domestically and as an export industry. Ms King will echo those comments in her keynote address to Tuesday’s conference. “Gas will remain central to supporting Australia’s energy needs and will boost the reliability of an electricity grid increasingly powered by renewables,” she is expected to say in the speech. “It is also very important for the energy needs of Western Australian households and businesses.”