Image: Einstock/shutterstock.comAustralia’s mining sector is on the brink of a revolution – AI, critical minerals and national security are rewriting the rules, according to Deloitte Global’s Tracking the Trends 2026 report. “The trends impacting the mining and metals sector feel almost unprecedented, and Australia is in the eye of the storm,” Deloitte Australia mining and metals leader Nicki Ivory said. “Our abundant critical mineral supply, once seen primarily as an energy transition enabler, is now at the centre of global national security discussions,” Ivory said. She said companies are expected to balance powering clean energy with reinforcing defence strategies, all while meeting growing consumer demand. Read more: ASX critical minerals set for 2026 supply surgeSubscribe to Australian Mining and receive the latest news on product announcements, industry developments, commodities and more.