In separate reports, outlets say former Treasurer and mining figure Joe Hockey made remarks at a mining forum in Kalgoorlie while discussing rare earths and geopolitics. Asked what underlies the conflict in the Middle East, Hockey says “everything comes back to Russia.” The articles frame his comments within a broader discussion of why Australia’s rare earth resources are viewed as important for global industries and supply chains. While the reports repeat the same core claim about Russia, they provide limited additional detail about any specific evidence or expanded explanation from Hockey in the forum itself. The coverage focuses primarily on his attribution of the conflict to Russian influence or interests, rather than on statements by other participants or officials at the event. Across the three outlets, the emphasis remains consistent: Hockey makes a geopolitical argument linking the Middle East crisis to Russia, in the context of a conversation about rare earths and their strategic value.