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In short:
Peter Dutton has softened his criticism of support for the critical minerals industry on a multi-day visit to WA.
The state is a critical battleground, and concerns are growing over job losses in sectors like lithium mining.
What's next?
All eyes are on when Mr Dutton plans to unveil the Coalition's own plan to support the industry.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has softened criticism of planned federal government tax supports for critical minerals projects that he slammed in May as "billions for billionaires".
Speaking at WA's Dealers and Diggers resources industry conference in Kalgoorlie on Monday, Mr Dutton said that since the budget he had been having "respectful" discussions with "significant players" and companies in the sector about the issue.
"There are some who are in favour, some who are against it, some who advocate for a better way for support and assistance to be provided," he said.
"In the end, we've got finite tax dollars. I want to make sure that we can provide support."
"We'll have more to say about ways in which I think we can provide support to some of the sectors."
Dutton out to woo the west
Mr Dutton's remarks come amid a multi-day visit to the west, where he has conceded the Liberal Party has a lot of rebuilding to do, with local media reports saying the Coalition's stocks have slipped in the state.
Joining Mr Dutton on his trip for a rare appearance was his wife Kirilly, who hails from Perth.
"[She] is very proud of her WA origins," he said on Sunday, adding he felt "very much at home" in the "amazing" state and felt it shared "a great affinity" with his home state of Queensland.
That affinity is not reflected on the electoral map. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's majority in the 2022 federal election was buttressed by a thumping result in WA netting three seats, and both sides regard the resources heavyweight as a crucial battleground in the coming campaign.
In May Labor unveiled a $7 billion plan to provide a 10 per cent tax credit to critical minerals companies that developed downstream processing, as part of a broader $22.7 billion Future Made in Australia package.
Minerals industry under pressure
The sector has been slammed in recent weeks because of a collapse in global prices as supply from China floods the market.
Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King, the only WA member of cabinet, suggested last week that the government might bring forward from 2027 the start date of planned tax credits for lithium producers.
Trouble has been brewing in WA for months, with US-based Albermarle announcing last week drastic cuts in output from its WA lithium hydroxide plant after an 80 per cent collapse in prices over the past year.
In other hits to confidence, BHP said last month it was suspending nickel mining and refining operations in the state until at least 2027, adding to a broader set of industry setbacks predicted to lead to about 7,000 job cuts.
Separately, Fortescue said it would cut 700 jobs as it wound back its hydrogen ambitions.
Dutton warms to 'billions for billionaires'
After Labor unveiled its tax credit plan for the industry, Mr Dutton said critical minerals projects should be able to stand on their own.
"We don't support it," he told ABC News Breakfast in May.
"The prime minister is giving billions and billions of dollars to billionaires, and we've got families living in tents and cars."
WA Premier Roger Cook seized on Mr Dutton's comments and described them as "anti-Western Australian".
"It's about creating jobs … to make sure that we make stuff in Australia," he said.
Speaking on Monday, Mr Dutton said: "WA is the economic powerhouse of our country and we should continue to do things that help, not hinder."
"I think there's a huge difference — let's be honest, there always has been between federal Labor and federal Liberal in terms of its support for the mining industry — and we will be a government that strongly supports mining in WA."