Critical minerals corruption risk sparks probity calls

Mining sector corruption lines the pockets of political elites, Transparency International says. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Australia is being urged to take stronger action against misconduct in mining, with more than half of global reserves of some key minerals in corruption-prone nations.

This includes more than 90 per cent of the world's rare earths, three-quarters of cobalt and two-thirds of nickel, according to Transparency International.