The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold a public hearing in Canberra as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.
On Friday, 26 June 2026 the Committee will hear from the National Farmers' Federation, Monash University researcher Mr Riasat Noor, the Critical Minerals Consortium and CSIRO, with a focus on community engagement and integrating mining with existing land uses.
CSIRO research notes that 'while there is strong public recognition of the essential role critical minerals play in reaching net-zero emissions and the need to increase their supply, many Australians remain concerned about the potential environmental impacts' of mining. Addressing these concerns requires 'building trust by ensuring that local communities have genuine opportunities to participate in and influence decision making, and that they are treated fairly with clear pathways to realise meaningful benefits'.
Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said: 'Social licence is critical to the development of the critical minerals sector. It involves honest communication, building trust, creating tangible and enduring benefits and mitigating costs and negative impacts. The Committee looks forward to discussing with experts how strong, early and continuous community engagement by project proponents can ensure that critical minerals projects gain and maintain acceptance by host communities.'
