world and can offer reliable security of supply to local processing facilities. This is a unique opportunity for the State. WA also has a special ability to make quality minerals for export as it has developed the smart technologies, software and research capability that allows very precise determination of the mineral quality along the development chain, from discovery through exploiting the resource and transporting it to individualised markets – mostly overseas. With Lithium this can be extracted to create high quality mineral products that can be combined into electrochemical processes that are then made into batteries. There are good reasons why this should be done here. WA is coming of age as an Indian Ocean regional trading power and an important centre for future global trade and security operations. WA’s trading partners appreciate the developing strategic role the State has although Commonwealth and State policies do not yet reflect this shift, nor does the political debate suggest a proper appreciation of the scale of the opportunity for the State, Commonwealth and our alliance and trading partners. The first signs of Lithium Valley are being built with the first ‘second stage processing’ of Lithium being built at two sites in Kwinana and another under approval at Kemerton. These current investments were based upon business decisions made months or years ago. To build on this momentum a proactive approach is now required to influence further business decisions currently being made internationally and attract additional downstream processing to the State. This is an opportunity that should now be grasped. We welcome feedback on the ideas in this report on how to make this happen. Peter Newman, Ray Wills, Cameron Edwards and Colleen Yates
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