Every Business Has Stakeholders — And Your Licence to Operate Depends on Them
11/12/2025
Every business has stakeholders.
To have a licence to operate, every business needs to engage with its stakeholders. Failure to do so no longer results in a quiet warning — it now threatens your reputation, your contracts, your ability to grow, and in many cases, your right to operate at all. The past decade has shown that even small and mid-tier businesses are losing social licence not because they lack customers or capability, but because they failed to engage, consult, or govern their operations in a responsible and transparent way.
Below are three WA examples that show how quickly things can unravel when governance, obligations, and stakeholder engagement aren’t systemised — and how a platform like SustainaPass could have prevented these failures entirely.
1. Kimberley Granite Holdings — Illegal Clearing & Heritage Failure
In the Kimberley, a small mining operator illegally cleared land inside a nature reserve, far beyond what was approved. Traditional Owners said they were not properly consulted and were shocked to discover the scale of disturbance.
What went wrong
No approvals tracking
Weak governance and record-keeping
Minimal engagement with Traditional Owners
No cultural heritage workflow or evidence trail
The consequence
The business lost community trust, attracted regulatory scrutiny, and damaged its licence to operate.
2. Pilbara Marine Contractors — Hydrocarbon Spills & Poor Reporting
In the Pilbara, several small tug and marine-service operators caused multiple diesel and oil spills inside port boundaries. The issue wasn’t just environmental; it was a total failure of governance and transparency.
What went wrong
Poor oversight of contractor operations
No system for verifying training or safety obligations
Inconsistent communication with Traditional Owners and fishers
Reactive reporting instead of continuous monitoring
The consequence
Fines, heightened scrutiny, community frustration, and a loss of trust that took years to rebuild.
3. Goldfields Junior Miners — Cyanide Leaks & Tailings Failures
Across the Goldfields, several junior miners were fined for cyanide solution leaks and tailings overspills caused by poorly maintained pipelines and inadequate stormwater controls.
What went wrong
No continuous environmental monitoring
Missing inspection records
Weak site governance
Storm-readiness and risk management not documented
The consequence
Compliance breaches, remediation costs, community complaints, and reputational damage.
Ready to Strengthen Your Licence to Operate?
SustainaPass turns governance, compliance, and sustainability into a simple, structured system — so your business can operate with confidence, transparency, and trust.
Book a demo → Download our stakeholder engagement guide →
