September 2026
IN THIS EDITION
David Salim
CEO & Principal Solicitor, Hetherington
From the Goldfields to the Courtroom
A season on the road and in the courts — Diggers & Dealers in Kalgoorlie, the NSW Mining HSEC Conference in the Hunter Valley, three of our consultants admitted as Solicitors, and the regulatory shifts our team is tracking across NSW and WA.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
As we move into the latter half of the year, it is a pleasure to reflect on some of the events, achievements and client engagements that have shaped recent months at Hetherington.
Diggers & Dealers
Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum
Over 3 to 5 August 2026, Hetherington’s CEO & Principal Solicitor David Salim, and Managing Consultant & Associate Solicitor Julia Catalano attended the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum in Kalgoorlie.
HSEC Conference
NSW Mining Health, Safety, Environment & Community Conference
Hetherington was proud to once again attend the Health, Safety, Environment and Community (HSEC) Conference in August, hosted by the NSW Minerals Council in the Hunter Valley.
WIMNet Lessons in Leadership
WIMNet Mentoring Program — Lessons in Leadership
As part of the 2026 NSW Women in Mining Network’s (WIMNet) mentoring program, Senior Consultant, Karinne Moss, attended the WIMNet Leadership Day in the Hunter Valley. Led by Boldside’s Shelley Johnson, 160 attendees took part in an interactive professional development workshop focused on communication, leadership and personal branding.
Three admissions
A milestone worth celebrating
A proud moment for the Hetherington team as three of our consultants were admitted as Solicitors, marking an exciting milestone in their legal careers.
RECENT REGULATORY UPDATES
What our consultants are tracking
Two significant shifts are moving through New South Wales this quarter — the future of greenfield coal exploration, and proposed land access amendments to the Mining Act. Here’s what they mean for your tenements, timelines and compliance obligations.
The NSW Coal Industry 2026–50 Framework and what it means for greenfield coal exploration
The NSW Government’s Coal Industry 2026–50 Framework ends the release of new areas for greenfield coal exploration and abolishes the Strategic Release Framework. Olivia Lee outlines what changes, who is affected, and the “use it or lose it” approach now applying to renewals.
Proposed amendments to the Mining Act 1992 (NSW) — practical effects on title holders
The Mining and Petroleum Legislation Amendment (Land Access) Bill 2026 proposes changes to mediation, arbitration, costs and reporting for land access — with an outcome expected to be published in September 2026. Jemima Moffatt and Katherine Vargoczky step through the sections that matter for title holders.
