Economic Policy

Helium on the Critical Minerals List

Helium on the Critical Minerals List

In December 2023, the Darwin helium plant closed, and with it Australia lost its helium sovereignty. Overnight, we became completely dependent on imports. 

Yet just weeks later, the Government removed helium from the Critical Minerals List. 

That was a mistake. Our supply chains are now significantly more vulnerable. Trade wars are a normality now, even with our closest partners. 

We must reinstate Natural Helium onto the Critical Minerals List to unlock investment, fast-track projects, and de-risk our domestic natural helium projects. 

Helium is a critical mineral essential to our health system, our economy, and our national security. 

Helium in Healthcare

Let’s start with healthcare. Every MRI machine in Australia relies on helium to function. Without it, these machines simply stop – delaying diagnoses for cancer, strokes, and heart disease. 

Right now, our hospitals are vulnerable to global supply disruptions entirely beyond our control. A domestic helium supply is fundamental to a resilient health system.

Helium for the Economy

This is also a major economic opportunity. Australia has the resources to meet domestic demand, but also to become a leading exporter in a world facing repeated helium shortages. 

That means long-term jobs, regional development, and sovereign capability. 

We also need natural helium for renewables and the technologies needed for the green energy transition.

Natural helium is essential to the growth of Australia’s tech sector, needed for data centres and quantum computers for its high-performance cooling and ultra-low temperatures. 

Projects like the Firmus AI data centre in Launceston show the high-skill jobs and economic growth that are possible when we invest in advanced technology. 

But those opportunities disappear without access to critical inputs. 

If we’re serious about a Future Made in Australia, natural helium must be part of the plan.

Helium for National Security

Finally, helium is integral to the AUKUS agreement. We’re committing hundreds of billions of dollars into nuclear-powered submarines and related systems, yet we lack the sovereign helium supply required for their maintenance and advanced quantum sensing. Simply put: you cannot have a functional submarine program or GPS-independent navigation without helium. Our national security is now directly tied to our access to this gas.

We must reinstate Natural Helium onto the Critical Minerals List to unlock investment, fast-track projects, and de-risk our domestic natural helium projects.