Snapshot
Project Scope
Our multi-perspectival approach to understanding the socio-political landscape and drivers and interactions of stakeholders focused on the Carmichael Coal Mine as an empirical exemplar of a mine with complex stakeholder interactions.
In line with the aims, our research questions focused on understanding stakeholder perceptions of:
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the key drivers as to why this case was considered to be contentious,
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the interactions amongst diverse stakeholders, and importantly,
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what might constitute good mining.
Stage 1 involved substantive desktop identification, collation and analysis of public documents, submissions, and news & social media, to identify social and political drivers of key mining stakeholder groups involved in debate around the mine.
Stage 2 centred on the conduct and analysis of 42 semi-structured interviews with identified stakeholders active in the Carmichael Coal Mine case.
Stage 3 encompassed the development of tools identified in the research process to distil research learnings and enable nuanced navigation of the social and political environment.
The project delivered a suite of three tools: Interactive Timeline; ANT Stakeholder Action Mapping Tool; and the PREDICT Principles of Good Mining.
Project team members: A/Prof Robyn Mayes, Dr Bree Hurst, and Dr Amelia Hine.
Project Outcomes & Learnings
Analysis across Stages 1 and 2 demonstrated:
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Disruption of business-centric stakeholder engagement, and substantial influence on the part of stakeholders that were not initially identified by the company.
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A dynamic hierarchy of stakeholder drivers in terms of influence and emphasis, and divergences at the regional, state and national levels.
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Limitations associated with the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process play a key role in shaping debate around mining operation.
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There is growing polarisation of stakeholders, and limited communication across ideological divides.
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A strong perception of the role of public media in shaping (mis)understandings of mining operations.
Good mining - as perceived across the spectrum of stakeholder interviewed - encompasses an interconnected and dynamic set of best practices involving both industry and government spanning:
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Increased transparency and trust;
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Improved engagement;
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Accessible information; and
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Processes/spaces to facilitate conversations among stakeholders with who may not recognise shared values.