Australia's mining sector has proposed the groundbreaking use of AI for mining project approvals through a $13 million investment in a three-year pilot program to embed AI into environmental regulatory decision-making with the potential for a long-term benefit of up to $1 billion.
The Minerals Council of Australia has asked the Federal Government to fund a pilot which would trial AI support for human decision-making to improve the transparency and accuracy of assessment and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act.
Releasing the pilot proposal during Minerals Week 2026 in Canberra, MCA CEO Tania Constable said delays in EPBC approval processes are a handbrake on the economy, creating severe bottlenecks for job-creating developments.
Multiple mining projects, more than 5000 kms of transmission lines and 26,000 homes are caught up in an approvals backlog.
An increase in average decision times for resources projects of 60% from 2.3 years in 2019 to 3.8 years in 2025 is creating uncertainty, costing the Australian economy billions and eroding investor confidence.
