Australia eyes boost to local critical mineral processing, manufacturing We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss Normal text size Advertisement Australia will aim to build a sophisticated manufacturing industry from its vast critical minerals resources in a move towards maintaining national sovereignty and securing vital technological supply chains. The federal government will move to leverage Australia’s world-leading critical mineral and resources sector to create more jobs and economic opportunities for manufacturing businesses with the release of a new 10-year plan in the NSW Hunter Valley on Thursday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was focused on continuing to rebuild the economy and that manufacturing would play a key role.