This article examines the role of public inquiries in environmental assessment. It provides an overview of federal inquiry practice, but emphasises inquiries under the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 (Cth) (EPIP Act), including the recent Commission of Inquiry into the Shoalwater Bay Area. The article examines a number of weaknesses in the current inquiry system, analyses why there have been so few inquiries under the EPIP Act, and proposes ways to enhance their potential.