PM reveals desert island plans as he mines WA support

Despite the pair trading barbs across the country, Anthony Albanese has revealed he wouldn't mind being stranded on a desert island with Peter Dutton. or signup to continue reading In a rapid-fire question-and-answer session on Thursday, the prime minister said he would prefer to be left alone with the opposition leader than Mr Dutton's coalition colleague, Angus Taylor. "I've had personal one-on-one conversations with him, we can talk .

.. in confidence.



I don't really have a relationship with Angus," Mr Albanese told the West Australian newspaper's Leadership Matters event. When Mr Dutton was asked at the same event earlier in the campaign whether he would prefer to be stranded with the prime minister or Treasurer Jim Chalmers, he said he would rather swim. Asked to play word associations, Mr Albanese described WA Premier Roger Cook as a friend, which drew audible "aws" from the audience.

The prime minister also described his fall off a stage in Cessnock on the campaign trail as "funny" and the worst part of the campaign, while also confirming rival Tanya Plibersek would be in a future second-term cabinet. However, he did not say whether she would remain as environment minister, saying he was keeping options open for positions not in finance or international affairs. Mr Albanese also used a speech at the event to unveil plans to spend $1.

2 billion to set up a national stockpile of critical minerals. The strategic reserve would generate money for Australia through the sale of minerals on global markets to allies while stockpiles of the minerals would be set aside from commercial projects through contracts. Australia has some of the world's largest critical mineral deposits which are used for products like batteries, electric vehicles and renewable energy technology.

Mr Albanese said the reserve of 31 minerals would be a critical asset to advance the national interest amid growing global uncertainty. "At a time when so much is unpredictable, this is one area where we know for sure which way the world is headed," he said. "The terrain is all mapped out.

Now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stake Australia's claim." The reserve would be set up through voluntary contracts with commercial projects or by establishing an option to purchase minerals at a given price. A critical minerals reserve had been floated as potential leverage in negotiations with the US administration after President Donald Trump imposed 10 per cent tariffs on Australian imports.

Mr Albanese said ongoing trade tensions meant the reserve was more important than ever. "We can deal with trade and market disruptions from a position of strength," he said. But coalition resources spokeswoman Susan McDonald criticised Labor for not taking advantage of its vast critical mineral stockpiles by failing to invest more in mining.

"The increasing demand from the US and its allies for access to abundant and secure sources of critical minerals, such as antimony, is an opportunity for Australia to cement our defence credentials," she told AAP. The coalition has ruled out a strategic reserve but will classify a slate of minerals as critical, questioning why Labor hadn't included several already. Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

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