Australia Orders 6 Chinese Firms to Sell Off Interest in Rare Earth Miner

Northern Minerals, which hopes to extract dysprosium and terbium in WA’s East Kimberley region, has long been a target of Chinese interest.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers takes questions from the media at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on May 13, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images

Treasurer Jim Chalmers has given six shareholders 14 days to sell their interests—about 17.5 percent—in Australian rare earths miner Northern Minerals Limited.

The six shareholders include four companies and two individuals—all but one are based in Hong Kong or China.