Mining moguls Gina Rinehart and Clive Palmer may appear before a Senate inquiry investigating the use of foreign workers.

The inquiry chairman, Senator Doug Cameron, told ABC Radio the inquiry wants to speak with them both, with public hearings intended for Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania.

"Obviously we'd be seeking Gina Rinehart, 'Twiggy' Forrest, Clive Palmer," he told the ABC.

Meanwhile, Palmer has said he may need to source foreign employees in order to staff his various resource projects.

"Jobs should be first for Australians, but we should not hold up national development (if there's a shortage of workers)," Palmer told the ABC.

This article first appeared on SmartCompany.