Public Knowledge of Mining: the Effect of Sociodemographic Characteristics and Experience of Mining Operations

摘要: Development of mining operations can generate social conflicts between mining companies, government and community members. In this context, indication of public knowledge of mining practice and its drivers is needed to identify the level of public education in mining issues and the channels of communication with the government and mining companies. The presented study introduces the results of an online questionnaire survey conducted in Australia in 2015. Using the generalized linear models, we analysed the effect of participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and experience on their knowledge of mining and mine rehabilitation in Australia. The results showed that a factor with the strongest effect on the knowledge was the experience with mining gained directly in mine site visits. Also participants’ gender, occupation, the character of place of residence and education played an important role in the knowledge of mining formation. With the increasing knowledge of mining, the public may understand the whole system of mining sector and realize the benefits of resource development. However, both the mining industry and governments need to review their own methods of communication and public education to build positive public attitudes towards the mining industry.