The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Primary Industries will hold public hearings in Melbourne and Horsham as part of its inquiry into factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes for critical minerals projects across Australia.
On Monday, 19 October 2026, in Melbourne, the Committee will hear from a range of stakeholders, including mining and mineral processing companies, academics, engagement professionals, and the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations, about the social licence requirements and economic potential of critical minerals projects.
On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, in Horsham, the Committee will meet with representatives of local communities and local governments in a region shaped economically and socially by agriculture to explore the challenges created by potential land-use conflict.
Committee Chair, Meryl Swanson, said: ‘The Committee understands that for some parts of Australia critical minerals presents significant challenges as well as important opportunities. Through the upcoming hearings in Melbourne and Horsham, the Committee will explore both the challenges and the opportunities presented by the integration of critical minerals with existing industries in established farming regions.’
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, 19 October 2026
Time: 9.00am – 3.20pm (AEDT)
Location:Hearing Room 3, 55 St Andrews Place, East Melbourne.
Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
Time: 10.20am – 2.30pm (AEDT)
Location:Council Chambers, Horsham Rural City Council Civic Centre, Horsham.
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.
