![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\nCritical mineral stocks rocket after Australia-US dealJonathan Barrett<\/p>\n
Resources and industrial companies have enjoyed a sharp lift in their share prices in early trading on the ASX as investors weigh up the new Australian-American $US8.5bn critical minerals deal.<\/p>\n
Anthony Albanese specifically referred to two \u201cpriority projects\u201d, one by Alcoa and the other by Arafura Rare Earths, that will enjoy an injection of capital from the government, as part of a broader list of strategic operations.<\/p>\n
Shares in Arafura surged by more than 15% this morning to trade above 55c, while Alcoa was up 8% to $60.<\/p>\n
Arafura is planning on producing the light rare earth oxides, neodymium and praseodymium, which are crucial to the production of magnets, used in everything from wind turbines and medical devices to electric motors and ballistic missile guidance systems.<\/p>\n
Gina Rinehart has a 10% stake in Arufura.<\/p>\n
![\"Gina](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5792.jpg\")
Gina Rinehart, pictured here in April in Sydney. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/Reuters<\/p>\n
Alcoa has a proposed gallium plant in Western Australia. Gallium is a strategic metal and essential input in semiconductor manufacturing and the broader defence sector, used in advanced electronic warfare systems.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s broader critical minerals sector has been rocketing in recent weeks amid the push by the Australian and US governments to break China\u2019s control over the sector.<\/p>\n
Updated at\u00a020.26 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Ley says \u2018all views are welcome\u2019 on Coalition\u2019s energy policy, including from Barnaby Joyce<\/p>\n Returning to the opposition leader, Sussan Ley says \u201call views are welcome\u201d \u2013 including those of Barnaby Joyce \u2013 when it comes to developing the Coalition\u2019s energy policy.<\/p>\n The leader of the opposition, Sussan Ley. Photograph: Bianca De Marchi\/AAP<\/p>\n Speaking with reporters in the inner-Sydney suburb of Paddington a short time ago, the leader of the opposition did not comment on whether Joyce was still welcome to attend Coalition joint party meetings:<\/p>\n Barnaby Joyce is a member of the Nationals party, and as leader of the Liberal party, I won\u2019t comment on the arrangements in the Nationals party room. That\u2019s for them. But, what I would say is that as we develop our energy policy going forward, which will be in clear contrast to this government, all views are welcome.<\/p>\n When asked by Guardian Australia whether Joyce\u2019s decision to leave the Nationals will make it easier to win support in teal seats \u2013 such as Wentworth \u2013 Ley repeated her stance:<\/p>\n Barnaby is a member of the Nationals party room. And decisions about the Nationals party room are best left with them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.13 EDT<\/p>\n Potato supplies lower due to normal constraints, but 2024 conditions had \u2018some impact\u2019 on yields, Woolworths says<\/p>\n Some shoppers have reported limited potato supply on supermarket shelves in recent days. Woolworths says drought conditions late last year has limited some supplies, but said any missing spuds should soon turn up as seasonal transition windows end.<\/p>\n A Woolies spokesperson said:<\/p>\n We still have sufficient supply of potatoes for our customers, but drought conditions from late 2024 and frosts earlier this year have had some impacts on growing yields.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also not unusual to see some supply constraints at this time of the year as we hit seasonal transition windows.<\/p>\n We expect things to return to normal in the coming weeks as we move to new season supply.<\/p>\n Photograph: V Chettleburgh\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.54 EDT<\/p>\n Top US Democrat says Australia remains \u2018stalwart ally\u2019 and Aukus is \u2018key\u2019 to American security<\/p>\n US senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a key Democrat and the ranking member on the US Senate foreign relations committee, said Australia remains a \u201cstalwart ally of the United States in the Indo-Pacific\u201d and a \u201ckey bulwark of our collective security and prosperity\u201d.<\/p>\n Shaheen released a statement saying a strong partnership between the two nations is \u201cvital to deterring aggression by China in the region\u201d, adding:<\/p>\n I was glad to see President Trump voice support for Aukus, which is key to both America\u2019s security and ensuring that the burden of collective defense is shared more broadly among partners and allies.<\/p>\n The U.S. must also continue to deepen its cooperation with Australia on critical minerals to secure resilient supply chains that reduce our dependence on China and strengthen our industrial base \u2026<\/p>\n The Indo-Pacific is watching whether America stands by its word. Congress will continue working with our allies to ensure that Aukus and our broader strategic partnerships deliver on their promise of shared security and prosperity.<\/p>\n Jeanne Shaheen. Photograph: Bonnie Cash\/UPI\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.34 EDT<\/p>\n Critical mineral stocks rocket after Australia-US deal Resources and industrial companies have enjoyed a sharp lift in their share prices in early trading on the ASX as investors weigh up the new Australian-American $US8.5bn critical minerals deal.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese specifically referred to two \u201cpriority projects\u201d, one by Alcoa and the other by Arafura Rare Earths, that will enjoy an injection of capital from the government, as part of a broader list of strategic operations.<\/p>\n Shares in Arafura surged by more than 15% this morning to trade above 55c, while Alcoa was up 8% to $60.<\/p>\n Arafura is planning on producing the light rare earth oxides, neodymium and praseodymium, which are crucial to the production of magnets, used in everything from wind turbines and medical devices to electric motors and ballistic missile guidance systems.<\/p>\n Gina Rinehart has a 10% stake in Arufura.<\/p>\n Gina Rinehart, pictured here in April in Sydney. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/Reuters<\/p>\n Alcoa has a proposed gallium plant in Western Australia. Gallium is a strategic metal and essential input in semiconductor manufacturing and the broader defence sector, used in advanced electronic warfare systems.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s broader critical minerals sector has been rocketing in recent weeks amid the push by the Australian and US governments to break China\u2019s control over the sector.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.26 EDT<\/p>\n First Nations ancestors from Kaurna country to be buried in Adelaide<\/p>\n First Nations ancestors from the southern parts of Kaurna country will be buried in Adelaide today. It is the fourth ceremony of its kind at the Wangayarta memorial park in Smithfield, in the city\u2019s northern suburbs.<\/p>\n Many of the ancestors\u2019 remains were collected and kept by museums and universities last century.<\/p>\n The Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation chair, Mitzi Nam, said Kaurna were \u201cdeeply relieved that our Old People\u2019s spirits can now reunite and rest peacefully\u201d:<\/p>\n We have now reburied ancestors from the north, south, east and west of Kaurna Yerta \u2013 but this will not be the last reburial.<\/p>\n There are still ancestors here and overseas who must be brought home and laid to rest.<\/p>\n Mitzi Nam, chair of the Kaurna Yerta Aboriginal Corporation. Photograph: Sia Duff\/The Guardian<\/p>\n SA Museum\u2019s Aboriginal heritage and repatriation manager, Anna Russo, said:<\/p>\n Wangayarta is an everlasting legacy created by the Kaurna people who resolved that their ancestors\u2019 stories of being disturbed from their traditional burial sites last century and heartlessly sent to the Adelaide Museum, University and other institutions, should not be reburied with them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.59 EDT<\/p>\n Joyce says he has a lot of \u2018similar positions\u2019 with Pauline Hanson, but is not a member of One Nation<\/p>\n Back to Barnaby Joyce\u2019s presser earlier, where he was asked why he had been linked to One Nation.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n Pauline [Hanson], she has a lot of positions \u2026 where I have similar positions. Note in the past Pauline I have fought bitterly against one another, but things move on.<\/p>\n A lot of her causes that I have, you know, there\u2019s a similar wavelength. If you say everything, no, of course not. But that\u2019s \u2013 but I\u2019m, I\u2019m not a member of One Nation.<\/p>\n Joyce added that \u201cphilosophically\u201d he had a lot of similarities with One Nation\u2019s priorities, including on scrapping net zero.<\/p>\n Pauline Hanson. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.41 EDT<\/p>\n Ley stands by call for Kevin Rudd to go, despite reports Trump accepted apology from ambassador<\/p>\n Sussan Ley, the opposition leader, is speaking in Sydney, where she was asked about her earlier call<\/a> for Kevin Rudd, the ambassador to the US, to lose his job.<\/p>\n Donald Trump reportedly told Rudd \u201call is forgiven\u201d<\/a> after the ambassador apologised for calling the US president a \u201cvillage idiot\u201d four years ago. Ley was asked if that would change her stance on Rudd:<\/p>\n I invite everyone to observe the sharp exchange that took place and make their own conclusions, that many of us have, which is that the president didn\u2019t appear to know the ambassador, and after sledging him in the way he did, then, for the prime minister to actually laugh at that sledge, in front of everyone at that table, shows me that the relationship is not where it needs to be, with respect to all of the hard work.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t about the individual. This is about the relationship and it\u2019s about Australia\u2019s national interest. And we need everyone kicking goals, every step of the way, to make sure that our businesses and industries are backed in exactly as they should be.<\/p>\n Sussan Ley. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.23 EDT<\/p>\n Joyce says his decision has been \u2018pretty traumatic\u2019, won\u2019t \u2018flippantly\u2019 rejoin the Nationals<\/p>\n Joyce said he agonised over his decision, but wouldn\u2019t \u201cflippantly\u201d rejoin the Nationals and nothing had changed over the last few days that would make him reconsider his choice.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a pretty traumatic issue. I\u2019m still basically a member of the National party. I have not joined another party \u2026 I\u2019m not going to do this thing where you\u2019re out for 24 hours or 48 hours and then you\u2019re back in. It\u2019s not that.<\/p>\n This is a really hard decision that I made, and I thought of it over a very long period of time as things got sort of worse and worse and worse, to be honest. And now I\u2019ve made it. There\u2019s nothing that\u2019s changed in the last couple of days that would ever, you know \u2026 I wouldn\u2019t create this kerfuffle if I was just going to flippantly go in, go out, and put my foot back in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.18 EDT<\/p>\n Barnaby Joyce says he won\u2019t be part of process that \u2018hurts\u2019 the Nationals, but will be involved in policy debate<\/p>\n Barnaby Joyce is holding a press conference in Tamworth, speaking more about his decision to leave the Nationals.<\/p>\n Joyce said:<\/p>\n The relationship in Canberra, I don\u2019t want to throw the plates around, but it had broken down. I think it\u2019s important to say that. Because otherwise people go, \u201coh, why?\u201d \u2013 it just happens in human relationships that they break down \u2026<\/p>\n I want to make this very clear. I love the membership that has been so good to me. And I am not going to be part of any process that I believe hurts the National party membership. OK? I will be involved in the policy debate. I\u2019m entitled to that.<\/p>\n He said his decision was centred on his ability to speak his mind without rubbing up against others in the Nationals.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why I\u2019m resigning from standing for New England. Because I don\u2019t want to hurt the people who\u2019ve basically handed out for me and done all those things for me. So that gives them a chance to move on.<\/p>\n Barnaby Joyce. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.09 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese to dine with Marco Rubio and meet with US treasury secretary<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese continues his Washington diplomatic tour this evening, scheduled for meetings and dinner with two Trump lieutenants.<\/p>\n The prime minister will meet the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, for dinner, and join the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, for a working meeting as well.<\/p>\n Albanese\u2019s DC trip finishes up tomorrow, a lightning-quick visit then back to Australia.<\/p>\n The White House. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.12 EDT<\/p>\n Australians splashing out on online shopping spent a record $20.7bn in last quarter<\/p>\n Australians spent a record $20.7bn online in the quarter stretching from July through September, up 15% from last year, according to new data from Australia Post.<\/p>\n The data shows about 8.1m Aussie households shopped online, a 2.7% year over year increase, with an average cart size a steady $95.<\/p>\n The biggest categories for shoppers are online marketplaces, food and liquor and fashion, with 50% of people setting their sights on Black Friday sales next month.<\/p>\n People in New South Wales shopped the most online, followed by Victoria and Queensland.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.43 EDT<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t like you either\u2019: Trump chides Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd at the White House<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a snippet of the White House meeting today.<\/p>\n Minns says Northern Beaches hospital buy-back reverses \u2018one of the worst decisions\u2019 of any NSW government<\/p>\n Here\u2019s more on what the NSW premier, Chris Minns, had to say about the buy-back of Northern Beaches hospital:<\/p>\n We\u2019ve reversed one of the worst decisions of any NSW government, where a private hospital model was foisted on the people of the Northern Beaches.<\/p>\n Our state\u2019s acute hospital services that provide life-saving care to the people of New South Wales should not be privatised and thanks to this decision, no hospital in NSW will be.<\/p>\n Because of Elouise and Danny [Massa]\u2019s courage and persistence, Joe\u2019s Law now ensures that no future government can repeat the mistakes that led to the Northern Beaches hospital privatisation. Their advocacy will leave a lasting legacy for every patient and every family who relies on our public health system.<\/p>\n The government is still to work out how it will deal with private services at the hospital, which clinicians say are an important part of the service for those with private health cover.<\/p>\n The government has said that all staff will be offered employment with NSW Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n Northern Beaches hospital. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.12 EDT<\/p>\n Trump told Kevin Rudd \u2018all is forgiven\u2019 after White House meeting Half an hour after a remarkably drama-free and warm meeting between Donald Trump and Anthony Albanese, the Australian ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, was heard apologising to the president, leaning over the table to say sorry to the man he called a \u201cvillage idiot\u201d four years ago.<\/p>\n Trump, according to Australian sources in the room, told Rudd \u201call is forgiven\u201d after the media filed out.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n![\"'Ready](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/8256.jpg\")
‘Ready to go’: Trump and Albanese sign multibillion-dollar critical minerals agreement \u2013 videoShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Daisy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Daisy_Dumas.png\")
Daisy Dumas<\/p>\nJonathan Barrett<\/p>\n‘Ready to go’: Trump and Albanese sign multibillion-dollar critical minerals agreement \u2013 videoShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Tory](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Tory_Shepherd.png\")
Tory Shepherd<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761009197_544_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n![\"'I](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761009198_966_2500.jpg\")
‘I don’t like you either’: Trump chides Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd at White House \u2013 videoShare<\/a>![\"Anne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Anne_Davies,_L.png\")
Anne Davies<\/p>\nJosh Butler<\/p>\n