Inquiry into Factors Shaping Social Licence and Economic Development Outcomes in Critical Minerals Projects Across Australia

Australia’s critical minerals sector is central to the global energy transition, advanced manufacturing, and defence supply chains, and most projects are on or near First Nations land. The sector’s success depends on whether First Nations peoples can genuinely consent to, participate in, and benefit from development on their Country.

First Nations Projects Institute has lodged a submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into social licence and economic development outcomes in critical minerals projects. The submission sets out a practical roadmap to align Australia’s critical minerals ambitions with First Nations rights, social licence, and long‑term regional development.

Key recommendations include embedding Free, Prior and Informed Consent in approvals, mandating early engagement with Traditional Owners, resourcing independent First Nations advice, improving project disclosure, building governance capacity and strategic planning, prioritising economic participation over narrow compensation, and establishing a national transparency and learning platform.

These reforms are designed to prevent a repeat of past extraction‑focused models and instead support stronger social licence, greater investment certainty, and better economic and social outcomes for First Nations communities.

Read our submission below.