Rio Tinto aluminum smelter to get Australian government bailout

In Australia on 12 August 2026, the federal government and the New South Wales government announced a $2.5 billion bailout package for the country's biggest aluminium smelter, the Tomago Aluminium plant that Mining.com calls a Rio Tinto smelter. The prime minister and the NSW premier were named as the ones announcing it.

The two governments split the cost, which ABC News says will fall on taxpayers over 10 years. Separately, Australia also approved new rules for gig delivery workers, covering a minimum wage and insurance against accidents.