Mallee residents are being encouraged to have their say informed by recent experiences on mining licence approvals in the electorate, after the Commonwealth Government opened a new consultation.

Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster, shared her dismay that, yet again, mining-related consultation is occurring during the harvest and Christmas season, and that the horse had bolted on key projects within the electorate.

“The main critical minerals projects in Mallee have largely been cleared to proceed, so locals would be telling the Commonwealth how consultation could have been done better,” Dr Webster said.

Inquiry

Federal Parliament’s House Standing Committee on Primary Industries on Monday adopted an inquiry titled “factors shaping social licence and economic development outcomes in critical minerals projects across Australia” with submissions now open, and closing on Friday, February 27, 2026.

“We have seen across Mallee that social licence has been given lip service by the Allan Victorian Labor Government on a range of projects,” Dr Webster said.

“The Government’s priorities are all that matters, not the views of farmers, landowners and communities on whether projects should occur on prime agricultural land.

Cautionary tale

“Look at the VNI-West transmission line project in Mallee as a cautionary tale about what happens when you get social licence wrong. Protests and farmers backing each other, peacefully blocking the farm gate to the project – as is their democratic right – results in major cost blowouts. Social licence must be secured freely and fairly from the start and throughout the project, including – in the case of mining – well after the project ends.

Critical mining consultation

“Not only that, local communities have been sceptical about the genuine, long-term financial benefits from mining projects and that is a key element of social licence.

“I am pleased that the Committee investigating this issue has The Nationals’ Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Resources as deputy chair. Jamie Chaffey is from regional Australia and knows very well the importance of listening to regional communities.

Submission

“I know that Governments have taken so much from farmers and their communities in consultation after consultation, with little apparent ‘give’ in return. I encourage people to make a submission about how the lived experience has been in Mallee, because we must get the critical minerals projects and processes right.

Rehabilitation

“Rehabilitation back to full or better productivity, and allowing farmers to stay in their homes and keep farming, must be a paramount consideration. Food security is a key element of national security and energy security which are sometimes mentioned in the critical minerals debate. We can get the balance right.”

Submissions can be made by searching for the inquiry title, or enquiring of the Committee Secretariat at pic.reps@aph.gov.au.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 19 December 2025.