Critical minerals key to regional development

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,  the committee will hear from the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Australian Aluminium Council and Regional Development Australia Goldfields Esperance.

In its submission, the MCA observed "mining has been a cornerstone industry for the development of regional Australia, supporting predictable workforce pathways, structured local procurement, coordinated infrastructure planning and whole-of-lifecycle management".

The MCA said, "Long-life mining is the stable foundation that makes every other development pathway possible. Remote communities need this stability to diversify from a standing start."

Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said, ‘The evidence received by the inquiry to date has highlighted both the opportunities and challenges faced by regional communities hosting critical minerals projects. Governments, industries and communities need to work together to maximise the benefits of critical minerals to regional communities. Getting critical minerals right will benefit the nation for decades to come."

More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the inquiry website.

Public hearing

Date: Friday, 29 May 2026
Time: 9am – 12pm (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 2R2, Parliament House, Canberra.

A program for the public hearing is available on the inquiry website. A live broadcast of the hearing will also be available on the APH website.

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