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What Gives You a Social Licence? An Exploration of the Social Licence to Operate in the Australian Mining Industry

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  • Sara Bice

    (Centre for Public Policy, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia)

Abstract

This article analyses the ways in which major, multinational mining companies operating within Australia understand sustainable development and articulate their “social licence to operate”. The article contributes a novel perspective to ongoing discussions about the social licence by exploring the ways in which leading Australian mining companies define and assert their social licences through sustainable development discourse. A content and discourse analysis of 18 sustainability reports across a four year period, supplemented by qualitative interview data, draws out these issues. While most companies use these reports to confirm beliefs in the necessity of a social licence, the ways in which the licence is specifically defined and maintained are not generally made explicit. Additionally, key theoretical criteria required for a social licence, such as free, prior and informed consent, appear to be overlooked. In conclusion, the article suggests ways in which criteria for a social licence within the mining industry could be defined more clearly and raises consequent questions to shape future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Bice, 2014. "What Gives You a Social Licence? An Exploration of the Social Licence to Operate in the Australian Mining Industry," Resources, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:3:y:2014:i:1:p:62-80:d:32315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Marian Eabrasu & Martin Brueckner & Rochelle Spencer, 2021. "A social licence to operate legitimacy test: Enhancing sustainability through contact quality," Post-Print hal-04455602, HAL.
    3. Marais, Lochner & Matebesi, Sethulego & van der Watt, Phia, 2024. "Social licensing and dependencies: Implications for mine closure in South Africa," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    4. Stronge, Dean C. & Kannemeyer, Robyn L. & Edwards, Peter, 2024. "Building social licence to operate: A framework for gaining and maintaining meaningful, trustworthy relationships," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    5. Manjengwa, Evelyn Ruvimbo & Dorfling, Christie & Tadie, Margreth, 2023. "Development of a conceptual framework to evaluate factors that affect drivers for stakeholder engagement in mine waste management," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    6. Konstantinos Komnitsas, 2020. "Social License to Operate in Mining: Present Views and Future Trends," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Isacowitz, Jenna Jade & Schmeidl, Susanne & Tabelin, Carlito, 2022. "The operationalisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in a mining context," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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