Indigenous partnerships
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are integral to the future of Australian mining, as Traditional Owners and native title holders, employees and leaders, businesses and investors, agreement partners and increasingly equity partners in the opportunities created through mineral development.
MCA supports the policy, institutional and industry environment that enable these relationships and opportunities to thrive.
The MCA Policy Statement on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships sets out the industry’s commitment and provides the foundation for this work.
MCA’s current policy work is focused on three areas.
- Cultural heritage by supporting practical and effective cultural heritage protection that recognises cultural authority, enables early engagement and provides workable regulatory frameworks for Traditional Owners, industry and governments
- Native title by supporting reforms that strengthen Traditional Owner capability, improve agreement-making and ensure native title processes are practical, proportionate and capable of supporting long-term investment and economic participation
- Economic coexistence by working with governments, across industries and with Traditional Owners to create stronger pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate in leadership, enterprise, investment and, increasingly, equity partnerships arising from mineral development.
Partnerships creating opportunity
MCA members directly employ approximately 6,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while procurement from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses by MCA members was close to $2 billion in 2024–25.
These outcomes demonstrate the scale of the economic relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Australian mining and provide a strong foundation for further economic participation.
Together, protecting culture, strengthening institutions and creating economic opportunity provide the foundations for enduring partnerships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Australian mining.