July 2026
David Salim
CEO & Principal Solicitor, Hetherington
Beneath the Surface
Our first client appreciation evening at Crown Sydney, plus the Exploration & Tenures Forum, AMEC in Perth, WIMNET 2026, and regulatory updates across NT, SA, WA and NSW.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
NSW Minerals Week began this year with Beneath the Surface, Hetherington’s first-ever client appreciation event — and we couldn’t be prouder of how it landed.
Feature
An evening of genuine hospitality
Guests were welcomed to the Teahouse at Crown Sydney for curated food and beverage experiences, before settling in for a fireside discussion between David Salim and two-time world champion boxer Billy Dib — a conversation that brought real perspective, honesty and impact to the room.
EVENTS
NSW Minerals Council's Exploration & Tenures Forum
Hetherington was proud to return as the main sponsor of the NSW Minerals Council’s Exploration & Tenures Forum 2026 for the tenth consecutive year. David Salim had the privilege of opening the day with the welcome address before a packed program of case studies and expert insights got underway.
Cultural heritage and native title in focus at AMEC
Hetherington was proud to sponsor AMEC’s Cultural Heritage to Native Title Forum in Perth, where David Salim was honoured to give the opening address alongside government, industry and legal leaders, exploring where Cultural Heritage and Native Title are heading in WA post the Kelly Review. Our own Madelaine Cannell-Lunn also contributed to the conversation.
OUR PEOPLE
Investing in the next generation of leaders
Karinne Moss and Emily-Rose Clemence attended the launch of the 2026 NSW Women in Mining Network (WIMNET), where Hetherington is proud to be sponsoring both Karinne and Emily to take part in this year’s Women in Mining mentoring program.
RECENT REGULATORY UPDATES
Streamlining native title assessment: the Infrastructure Facility Process
A High Court ruling has prompted NSW Resources to overhaul how native title is assessed for certain mining lease applications. Consultant Holly Hannon outlines the new Infrastructure Facility Process — what triggered it, who it applies to, and what it means for project timelines.
Mining reforms propose to extend the life of exploration licences
South Australia is moving to give exploration licence holders more flexibility, with proposed amendments under the Statutes Amendment (Mining and Energy Reforms) Bill that would allow licences to be extended beyond the current 18-year limit. We outline what the Bill proposes, the circumstances under which an extension may be granted, and the current state of the reforms.
Mineral titles framework modernised: the Amendment Act is now in force
The Northern Territory has modernised its mineral titles framework with the Mineral Titles Legislation Amendment Act 2026 (NT). Introduced in March 2026 and in force from 5 June, it brings changes to exploration licences, new title categories for small-scale and fossicking activities, and updates to preliminary exploration requirements.
