A Parliamentary Select Committee inquiry will look into land access arrangements for mineral exploration companies, thanks to a push from Independent Member for Frome Geoff Brock.
The committee - to be chaired by Mr Brock - will conduct several regional visits to gather community and landholder views, hold hearings with mining and agricultural stakeholders and employ a research officer before presenting their findings to Parliament on November 18.
"The establishment of the committee will allow more open consultation away from the bureaucratic system and allow us to go out and talk directly to people affected," Mr Brock said.
The move was welcomed by Grain Producers SA, with chief executive officer Caroline Rhodes saying the inquiry would help engage the community at large and shine a light on current practices.
But the SA Chamber of Mines and Energy CEO Rebecca Knol said the inquiry would put jobs at risk and send worrying signals to domestic and international investors about doing business in SA.
Read more here.
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