The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) is calling on the Federal Government to extend the 50 per cent capital gains tax (CGT) discount for individual investors who back junior minerals explorers beyond June 2027. With the discount, investors pay tax on only half their profit when they sell shares held for at least a year. Junior explorers rarely pay a dividend, so an investor can wait 10 years or more with no income, relying on a capital gain if a discovery is made. An investor on a 37 per cent tax rate who put $10,000 into shares and held for five years before a $20,000 gain would keep about $16,300 after tax today. China dominates the processing of many critical minerals, and Australia is working to become an alternative supplier.