In a move that would have been unthinkable a decade ago, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has launched a Federal Court lawsuit to force Chinese-linked entities to divest from a key rare earth miner. This isn’t just a legal dispute; it’s a test of whether Australia is willing to enforce its sovereignty in the face of economic intimidation and strategic competition.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has launched legal action against Chinese-linked entities involved in rare minerals production. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The test is one of enforcing set red lines or, in Seinfeld parlance, not just knowing how to make a reservation but knowing how to hold a reservation. That’s why, if we’re serious about holding onto the strategic advantages of our critical minerals sector and not just making short-term profits, this is a moment for resolve.

At the heart of the matter is Northern Minerals, an Australian company developing the Browns Range heavy rare earths project in WA. It is an operation that could become one of the first non-Chinese sources of the critical minerals essential for advanced military systems, clean energy technologies and high-end electronics.

Despite a clear directive from Chalmers last year for five Chinese-linked entities to divest their stakes in Northern Minerals, at least one, Indian Ocean International Shipping and Service Company Ltd, allegedly failed to comply.

Now, in a move that’s both........

© The Sydney Morning Herald