The Exploration code of practice: Community consultation has been revised to ensure a more ‘outcomes-based’ approach for community consultation.
This approach offers flexibility to tailor consultation to individual exploration programs and communities and strengthens transparency for consultation with stakeholders who are directly affected by the exploration project.
The requirements in the code are focused on enhancing the effectiveness and transparency of community consultations.
The revised code of practice sets out clearer mandatory requirements for explorers including:
- a refined definition of ‘community’ and ‘activity’
- requirements for an engagement contact
- requirements for the titleholder to produce a community consultation plan
- requirements to implement, monitor and evaluate consultation
- requirements for the titleholder to produce annual community consultation reports
- removal of the requirement for risk assessment.
Keeping the community informed is an important part of any exploration program. The revised code of practice strengthens transparency by requiring titleholders to provide a copy of their community consultation plan on request.
The code of practice has been revised based on feedback and insights gathered from the Resources Regulator’s compliance audit program and consultation with the exploration industry.
The revised code of practice will come into effect from 31 March 2026 to allow time for exploration companies to have their community consultation plan in place, publish the engagement contact details on their website and prepare reports using the updated requirements.
View the Exploration code of practice: Community consultation (PDF, 392.34 KB).
