Catherine Pattenden

Examining Corporate-sector Involvement in the Governance of Selected Mining-intensive Regions in Australia

Abstract Mining companies are increasingly urged to contribute to the long-term economic and social well-being of host communities in regional Australia and are attempting to respond to such calls as part of a commitment to corporate social responsibility. Yet the nature and extent of their involvement in local affairs is not fixed or given, but is influenced by a host of factors including the kind of mine in operation, the remoteness of the local area, the presence or absence of other governmental stakeholders and the legacy of prior modes of mining industry intervention. This paper explores these issues in three different contexts: a company town considering normalisation; a mixed-economy region in which mining companies are required to play a greater role in local affairs than previously; and a fly-in, fly-out mine in a remote and sparsely populated region in which such opportunities to contribute to local life are limited. These studies illustrate the shifting responsibilities between public and private sectors, the changing expectations of each actor, and the ambiguity surrounding the responsibility of mining companies to participate in local governance.

Regulation of resource-based development: governance challenges and responses in mining regions of Australia

Extractive industries have significant social, economic, and environmental impacts on the communities in which they operate; and, if well governed, the sector can contribute to sustainable local development. With this paper we analyze public sector dimensions of efforts to manage the development pressures associated with mining in Australia by examining the legislative and policy framework of various levels of government. We outline recent legislative trends and variations across jurisdictions. We also identify gaps and inadequacies in the regulatory framework and the implications of these with respect to emerging governance challenges and practices in mining-intensive regions of Australia—particularly for local governments. We identify forms of networked governance in mining regions involving initiatives of and relationships between local governments, state governments, mining companies, and other stakeholders. These governance arrangements are characterized by (1) variety of institutions, (2) attention to mining-specific impacts, and (3) dispersal of resources, responsibilities, and authority.