The environmental and community aspects of mining were often described by mine operational personnel as a soft side of the industry, important yes, but not as critical as the technical side of the mining business. This is no longer the case and a recent survey by Ernst and Young placed licence to operate, as the biggest business risk facing the mining and metals industry in 2019-20. The aim of this paper is to present a brief analysis of the demise of the Australian mining industrys social licence to operate. Commencing with the discovery of coal in the 18th century, to gold and copper and base metals in the 19th century, to the world class iron ore, mineral sands and diamond mines of the 20th century to the current day, the paper will attempt to determine how and why a once well-respected industry, is now considered to be a pariah in the eyes of the community. CITATION:Laurence, D, 2019. The devolution of the social licence to operate in the Australian mining industry, in Proceedings 9th International Conference on Sustainable Development in the Minerals Industry, pp 45 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).