A corruption risk is created if a mining company can disproportionately influence policy makers and shape policy decisions for commercial gain. Governments must ensure checks and balances are in place so that the public interest comes first, always.

Transparency International Australia’s research found undue influence and policy capture to be a corruption risk in mining approval regimes in Queensland and Western Australia. Political donations, lobbying and ‘revolving doors’ all exacerbate the risk that mining laws and policy will be shaped to benefit the industry over the public interest.

This factsheet explores one of the key corruption risks we identified in our research into the mining approvals process in Queensland and Western Australia.