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The Queensland Government opened the Flexi-Lab minerals processing facility in Mackay on February 18, 2026. This common-user facility aims to enhance domestic processing of critical minerals, addressing the current shortfall where Australia processes only 15% of its mined minerals.

The initiative is part of a broader national strategy targeting $500 billion in export potential by 2030 and includes a $17 billion tax credit program to incentivize local processing. Flexi-Lab will support technology testing, skills development, and reprocessing of tailings.