Joint media release with Treasurer Jim Chalmers, the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, and the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, Tim Ayres.

The Albanese Labor government is unlocking investment in Australia’s fuel security, supply chain resilience and critical minerals through the Investor Front Door’s first pilot projects.

These projects are all about making our economy stronger and more resilient, and our fuel supply more secure. 

The Investor Front Door will streamline how project developers and businesses interact with government, helping them navigate approvals processes and fast-track major projects in the national interest.

These projects have the potential to contribute up to $20 billion in investment in Australia.

Four projects have been chosen to participate in the first Investor Front Door pilot:

1. HAMR Energy’s Renewable Fuel Project in Victoria and South Australia – which will develop two facilities to convert biomass into low carbon liquid fuels. 
   
   This project will strengthen Australia’s fuel security by increasing the amount of fuel we produce here, support regional jobs and industries, and help reduce emissions across a range of sectors like aviation and shipping.
2. Ardea Resources’ Kalgoorlie Nickel Project in Western Australia – one of the largest nickel and cobalt resources in Australia, which could produce 30,000 tonnes of nickel and 2,000 tonnes of cobalt a year for 40 years. 
   
   This project will help to meet global demand for nickel and cobalt, bolster our position in clean energy supply chains, and support economic development in the WA Goldfields.
3. New Energy Transport’s Wilton Project located south-west of Sydney – a large scale zero-emission heavy road freight depot to help strengthen the resilience of our freight systems and supply chains. 
   
   This would be the first in a proposed network of electric freight hubs enabling zero emission freight transport between major cities, reducing our reliance on diesel freight and imported fuels. 
4. The Murchison Green Hydrogen Project in Western Australia – a green hydrogen plant producing large-scale green ammonia using wind and solar. 
   
   The project aims to aims to provide a model for commercial-scale green hydrogen development and generate new green export opportunities to Asia and Europe. 

These projects are investing in critical industries that could deliver hundreds of jobs during construction phases and in ongoing roles once operational. 

We have long said that boosting productivity and navigating global economic volatility are two of our key economic priorities and the Investor Front Door is addressing both. 

The supply chain disruptions we are seeing as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East demonstrate just how important it is to build up our sovereign capability in these essential areas. 

Under the pilot, the Government will provide project developers with a dedicated engagement manager to help navigate the regulatory requirements, obtain regulatory decisions, and identify existing appropriate government financing options. 

These four project proposals are pioneering and experimental by their nature. It is in our national interest to provide them with the tools and direction to offer them the best chance to succeed.  

The pilot will run until mid-2027. 

More information on the Investor Front Door is available here.