FROM THE GROUND UP: Inclusive consultation in Victoria’s mining & energy transition

Victoria is undergoing a dramatic period of energy transition and policy change, with increasing attention on critical minerals and clean energy infrastructure. To ensure a just energy transition, communities, including First Nations communities, landholders, and local communities directly affected by these projects, must have a central role in decision-making processes and require clear, accessible, and culturally safe pathways to participate meaningfully in consultation and decision‑making. Their participation is key to ensuring equitable access, protecting rights, and crafting a shared vision for a sustainable energy future.

Transparency International Australia‘s Accountable Mining Programme is focusing on strengthening community engagement principles and guidelines for inclusive community engagement in consultation processes in the mining sector, both connected to local mining projects and broader mining governance policy linked to the energy transition. Guided by TI’s multi-stakeholder approach, this participatory session will bring together First Nations and local leaders, advocacy organisations, government, industry and subject-matter experts to explore the critical importance of inclusive and meaningful community engagement in the energy transition.

Agenda

• 10:00 – 11:30am

The workshop will comprise two components:

• A moderated opening dialogue to ground the Victorian context for consultation during the energy transition and highlight what “good” practice looks like from multiple perspectives.

• A participatory forum where participants work in small groups to map engagement opportunities across the mining project lifecycle, identify barriers to meaningful community participation, and co-design practical steps to strengthen consultation and mining governance for the energy transition in Victoria.

Opening dialogue speakers:

• Chris Sounness, Chief Executive Officer, Wimmera Southern Mallee Development

• Dr. Ana Estefanía Carballo, Head of International Programs, Transparency International Australia

More to come.