Experts have called for changes to attract new people to the mining sector. 

Australia's mining sector faces a significant image problem, says industry veteran Jim Pollock. 

Pollock, who has extensive experience in the resources sector, argues that mining must return to its core values and actively promote its positive contributions.

“The mining industry is seen as bad, the miners destroy the countryside, pollute the water, get huge tax benefits from the diesel fuel rebate and it has an image problem,” he has told the ABC.

“That is not good.

“We've got to do better. The whole industry has to do better.”

Pollock says that in contrast to the agriculture industry, perceived as environmentally friendlier, mining struggles to attract young talent due to its tarnished reputation.

Nicky Ivory, Deloitte's mining and metals lead, says the industry must act swiftly to change its negative image.

“The image mining has of being dirty and not being contemporary, that image is in the control of the mining industry,” she said.

“If the mining industry doesn't step up and control that narrative and that image, others will fill in the gaps for them.”

While sustainability gains traction, the mining industry still grapples with cultural issues like sexism, bullying, and harassment. The Gold Industry Group hosted a panel at this year's Diggers and Dealers forum to address these concerns.

Researcher Darren Saunders, who conducted a 2021 workplace culture review at Rio Tinto, believes cultural change will require time and “authentic leadership.”

“There's been a reckoning of sorts,” Dr Saunders said. 

“This problem has been around for quite some time and I think it came to the fore, the bandaid got ripped off and it came out into the open.”

Gold Industry Group Chairperson Kelly Carter says that despite efforts, more needs to be done to address these cultural shortcomings.

“Significant change can't come fast enough,” she said. 

“But I think if we can start to change the perception of the industry from the outside looking in, I think that will be a really big win.”