The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold public hearings in Brisbane and Mackay as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.
On Monday, 28 September 2026 the Committee will hear from a range of stakeholders, including academics, engagement professionals, mining and mineral processing companies, and government, about the social licence requirements and economic potential of critical minerals projects.
On Tuesday, 29 September 2026 the Committee will meet with representatives of the Greater Whitsunday Alliance and Isaac Regional Council to explore the opportunities for critical minerals development in a region shaped by mining, as well as the challenges facing local communities in those regions.
Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said: ‘There are tremendous opportunities for mining regions to leverage their existing resources and expertise to take advantage of the critical minerals boom. Areas like Gladstone, Mackay and Townsville have the people, expertise and infrastructure to take these opportunities to another level in processing and manufacturing of critical minerals. The Committee is keen to see how these opportunities might be progressed while ensuring that the benefits and costs are distributed fairly.’
More information on the inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on making a submission, can be found on the inquiry website. The Committee will travel to other regions across the country in the coming months.
Public hearings
Date: Monday, 28 September 2026
Time: 9.00am – 3.20pm (AEST)
Location: Committee Room 2, Level 3, Parliamentary Annexe, Alice Street, Brisbane.
Date: Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Time: 9.00am – 10.30am (AEST)
Location: Resources Centre of Excellence, 65 Crichtons Rd, Paget.
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.
Media inquiries
Rosa Grine, Media Advisor, Office of Meryl Swanson MP
[email protected]
0406 223 537
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4500
[email protected]
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
