LNP ditches review into mining lease objections

Peak mining body the Queensland Resources Council has welcomed a decision by Attorney-General Deb Frecklington to withdraw the state's Mining Lease Objections and Appeals Review. The Queensland Law Reform Commission had been carrying out the review since mid-2023, with the final report and recommendations due by June 30. "This reference provided the opportunity for independent advice to reform a complex and dated process. The commission was well advanced in developing its recommendations," Queensland Law Reform Commission chair Fleur Kingham said. "Although disappointed we cannot finalise this work, we respect this is a matter for the Attorney-General." QRC chief executive officer Janette Hewson said that group had made submissions expressing concerns that the review could lead to further duplication of regulations and delays in approvals of new resources projects through activist lawfare. "The Queensland Government’s decision to establish a Resources Cabinet Committee as recommended by the QRC in lead up to the October election will provide an effective platform to streamline project approvals and maintain strict environmental and regulatory standards," she said. But Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Ellen Roberts said the group was shocked that the LNP Government had cancelled the review at the last moment. “Campbell Newman took the very unpopular step in 2014 of taking away the rights of farmers and community members to object to coal mines," she said. "The Crisafulli Government must reassure the community that the cancelling of this review is not the first step to pulling a new Newman. “Hundreds of stakeholders including farmers, community groups, and even mining companies put many hours and a lot of energy into participating in this review. “It’s extremely unusual for a high-level review of this kind to be cancelled right before the recommendations were due to be delivered. We can only conclude that the LNP Government has intervened because the findings were not popular with the mining industry. ” Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said the government was committed to improving decision-making timeframes for Queensland’s resources sector, ensuring project proponents could invest with confidence to create jobs and drive economic growth. "This means working collaboratively with stakeholders to find improvements to mining lease objections processes, without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens," he said. "Elevating these issues into the Resources Cabinet Committee strikes the right balance to support industry investment and development while safeguarding Queensland’s environment." Ms Kingham said the commission had provided Mr Last with a folder of working papers from the review. "The working papers, which can be accessed here, capture the valuable contributions of the many who engaged with the review and the commission's deep research and considered analysis in fulfilling the terms of reference for this review," she said.

LNP ditches review into mining lease objections

Industry Queensland

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