The two PMs were joined by BHP CEO Mike Henry, Western Australian premier Mark McGowan and federal resources minister Madeleine King on a tour of the facility, which includes Australia's first nickel sulphate plant.

The facilities' customers include major auto and battery makers in Japan.

Australia and Japan signed a new partnership to help build secure supply chains for critical minerals, which are crucial elements of clean energy technologies needed to help both countries meet net-zero commitments.

The partnership, signed by King and Japanese vice minister for international affairs Hirohide Harai, will establish a framework for building secure critical minerals supply chains between Australia and Japan, and promote opportunities for information sharing and collaboration, including research, investment and commercial arrangements between Japan and Australian projects.

"This new partnership will be a welcome boost to Australia's critical minerals sector and will help Australia further develop its abundant reserves of critical minerals which will ultimately help both countries achieve their emissions reductions targets," King said.

"The partnership will help to open up more foreign investment in our critical minerals sector and will increase collaboration between our two counties on the development of critical minerals."

The new partnership came a day after Albanese visited Curtin University to announce a National Critical Minerals Strategy.

The government plans to allocate A$50 million over three years to the Critical Minerals Development Program and $50.5 million over four years to establish the Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub.

Albanese said the new initiatives would ensure Australia could create and support local jobs, diversify global supply chains and meet the growing demand for batteries, electric vehicles and clean energy technology.

"Without Australia's resources, the world will not reach net zero," he said.

King said the package of measures showed the government's commitment to net zero and the important role the resources sector could play in the energy transition.

"We are investing in the science and backing projects that are early to mid-stage, as well as helping to fast-track financing for projects that are further along in their development," she said.

"The new measures will help bring online new sources of supply, support robust supply chains and create high-paying regional jobs for Australians while improving Australia's export resilience."

While the news was welcomed across the industry, the federal opposition had a different view.

Shadow minister for resources Susan McDonald said it was simply a smoke and mirrors announcement to cut funding, given the Liberal-National Coalition had announced a $200 million Critical Minerals Accelerator Program earlier in the year while it was still in government.

"The rebranded Critical Minerals Development Program now only has $50 million left in the fund after Labor slashed $100 million out of the program and the first $50 million is already out the door following six grants announced by the coalition in April," she said.

"In a further sleight of hand, Labor has rebranded the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Centre, funded and created by the coalition, as a hub and is now trying to pretend it is new."

McDonald said it was clear the PM was battling anti-mining MPs in his own cabinet and trying to keep them onside while giving industry false hope.

"This funding cut is a slap in the face to an industry that should be leading the world in critical minerals extraction and exports as global demand for battery and renewables components soars," she said.

"The government must pick a side - it either supports Australian mining companies, mine workers and the billions in royalties and taxes they provide, or it stands with the Greens and other anti-mining and anti-development groups."

Nevertheless, the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA and the Minerals Council of Australia welcomed the announcement.

AMEC chief executive officer Warren Pearce said the initiatives would help grow the critical minerals industry and expand downstream processing.

"Today's announcement underlines the government's unwavering commitment to the resources industry's global leadership in the critical minerals sector," he said.

"Australia's wide range of critical minerals resource projects now have a clear framework and future vision."

CME WA CEO Rebecca Tomkinson said the opportunity to help fashion such an important strategy would be well received by the mining and resources sector in WA.

"On behalf of the CME membership, I'd like to thank the Albanese government for its willingness to listen to what's important to industry and engage a wide range of stakeholders in formulating this strategy," she said.

"Australia has a massive opportunity in the critical minerals space to create jobs and attract investment that helps communities flourish and to add value through mid and downstream processing but taking full advantage of that opportunity requires collaboration and conversation across state borders."

Tomkinson welcomed the opportunity to have a seat at the table and help develop a strategy to plot the path for a key part of the mining and resources sector for decades to come.

MCA CEO Tania Constable said a comprehensive strategy and national approach was essential to ensuring the mining industry continues to drive Australia's economic prosperity.

"This strategy is vital for both Australia and our trading partners aiming to reduce the carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050," she said.

"Such goals will create a more resource-intensive global economy that requires substantial growth in the production of critical minerals including lithium, copper, rare earth elements and nickel."

Constable said the MCA looked forward to working with the government on the plan.