The vast majority of Australian mining, oil and gas companies have no clear public commitment to gain the consent of Indigenous peoples before commencing projects on their land, according to a new report...[The] report found only one Australian company [Rio Tinto] had policies and a position to consider Indigenous peoples’ rights, including their ablility to participate in decisions that affect them...Mining projects in developing countries can cause harm in a number of ways, including environmental degradation...contamination of water sources for drinking, farming and fishing, deterioration of health including malnutrition, declining social cohesion, and destruction of places of cultural and spiritual significance...[C]ompanies [need] to understand the potential legal, reputational and financial risks of attempting to operate without [free, prior & informed consent]...