THE CONFERENCE CALLER: Delegates arriving early for Day Three of the 2025 RIU Resources Roundup were treated to a strident presentation by the New South Wales government.

The morning’s opening address was given by The Hon Courtney Houssos MLC the NSW Minister for Finance, Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement and Minister for Natural Resources.

During her presentation, Houssos covered a gambit of industry issues, including the achievements of the state’s geological survey that is celebrating its 150th birthday this year.

The main issue of Houssos’ address, focused on how the state Labor government is working alongside the industry for the benefit of all parties.

“The New South Wales government is partnering with industry to be able to provide and foster a stronger industry,” Houssos declared.

“Obviously we are meeting on the back of a pretty significant federal election result that happened on the weekend and I think for the mining industry in particular it’s a really strong message and it is a great opportunity for us to be able to see a federal government re-elected that put – particularly critical minerals mining at the heart of their campaign.

“We see this excitement and enthusiasm and understanding from the federal government about the importance of mining to our state, but also for the future opportunities.”

Houssos reflected on her time in the job, having been appointed Resources Minister just two years ago.

“We have done a lot over the last two years to really be able to – like I said – partner with industry and show that we are here and want to provide a stable investment environment,” she said.

“We understand the opportunities in mining. We understand the important role that government plays in providing that stable investment environment.

 

“If you are looking for opportunities to invest (in NSW) I strongly encourage you to take another look here in New South Wales.”

Houssos highlighted the NSW government’s stated priorities in regard to the mining of critical minerals in the state.

The state has implemented a critical minerals and high-tech metals exploration program that provides grants over the next two years.

The program is designed to co-fund up to $250,000 with industry participants enabling them to undertake drilling, carry out geophysics and geochemistry.

“These grants are designed to be partnering with at that key point in the exploration program,” Houssos explained.

“We believe this co-investment will, hopefully, allow under-explored areas to unlock those opportunities…to minimise those inherent risks that we see in greenfield operation and exploration.”

Houssos reiterated what she described as being a further key element of the government’s critical minerals and high-tech metals strategy – its Royalties Deferment Scheme.

“This is a $250 million program that is designed to partner with industry…at the crucial point when capital and financial squeeze is on,” she continued.

“We’re going to take a step back, allowing you the space to unlock that capital to get the projects off the ground, to really get them up and moving.

“I am the Finance Minister as well, so we are going to make sure you actually do pay us back eventually, but we see this as a crucial part.

“We know that these are risky propositions.

“That there can be crucial points where we can be freeing up capital allowing you to make those final investment decisions.”

This scheme will apply to projects that will reach the production phase between July 1 2025 and June 30 2030.