Peter Dutton has softened his criticism of support for the critical minerals industry on a multi-day visit to WA.All eyes are on when Mr Dutton plans to unveil the Coalition's own plan to support the industry.
"There are some who are in favour, some who are against it, some who advocate for a better way for support and assistance to be provided," he said."We'll have more to say about ways in which I think we can provide support to some of the sectors."Mr Dutton's remarks come amid a multi-day visit to the west, where he has conceded the Liberal Party has a lot of rebuilding to do, with local media reports saying the Coalition's stocks have slipped in the state.
Trouble has been brewing in WA for months, with US-based Albermarle announcing last week drastic cuts in output from its WA lithium hydroxide plant after an 80 per cent collapse in prices over the past year. WA Premier Roger Cook seized on Mr Dutton's comments and described them as "anti-Western Australian".Speaking on Monday, Mr Dutton said: "WA is the economic powerhouse of our country and we should continue to do things that help, not hinder."