Regional Queensland residents delivered an open letter to Rockhampton and Mackay MPs today, asking the LNP to withdraw proposed laws that would give the Queensland government sweeping new powers to fast-track major development projects by overriding environmental approvals and private property rights.

More than 300 regional Queensland residents have signed the letter, saying the proposed State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) Bill would negatively affect farmers and regional communities by: 

• Allowing the government to override the environmental and planning assessment process for projects they designate as ‘state significant’.

• Allowing the government to seize private land for ‘state significant’ projects. 

• Cutting back public notification and community objection rights. 

• Rolling back the protection of productive agricultural land.

• Shifting decision making from local communities to central government. 

This morning, Rockhampton residents delivered the letter to Member for Rockhampton Donna Kirkland and Mackay residents delivered the letter to Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton, asking them to withdraw the proposed laws. 

Claire Gronow, Central Queensland Coordinator, Lock the Gate Alliance said: “This bill represents a serious power grab by the Deputy Premier, who wants to sideline local communities and make decisions on behalf of regional Queenslanders from his office in Brisbane.

“This is a deeply unpopular bill, which has attracted criticism from across the political spectrum – from property rights advocates, law experts and the agriculture industry. Nearly 90% of the 90 submissions received were against the bill, and many of these submissions pointed out significant flaws.

“The bill paves the way for private sector companies to run roughshod over the rights of ordinary Queenslanders, tipping the balance strongly in the favour of development companies.

“We’re calling on the Deputy Premier and the current Queensland government to withdraw these laws, and restart with a process of genuine community consultation.” 

Imogen Lindenberg, Coordinator, Mackay Conservation Group said: “The government has failed to explain why such sweeping new powers are needed. There is zero evidence that existing assessment processes are holding back economic development in regional Queensland. 

“It is so critical that coal, gas and other mining projects are properly assessed for their impacts on farmland, water resources and the broader environment. 

“If it goes ahead, this bill could take a wrecking ball to the protections that safeguard Queensland’s land, water and communities – as well the agriculture and tourism industries that rely on a healthy environment.”

A parliamentary committee will deliver its report on the bill on 7 August. 

ABOUT THE BILL

Deputy Premier Bleijie introduced new laws in the Queensland Parliament in June, creating sweeping new powers to fast track mining and other projects and bypass environment and heritage laws, simply by designating the project as of ‘strategic’ significance to Queensland.

The laws were referred to a Committee and a public hearing was held in Mackay on 14 July.

While Bleijie has flagged critical minerals mining as the target of the bill, it can apply to any projects, including coal and gas.

The bill tips the balance strongly in favour of development companies, infringing on private property, consultation and bobjection rights for impacted farmers and communities. The following elements of the proposed reforms are of the most concern to us:

• Unprecedented new powers to modify or disapply the operation of State legislation for individual State Strategic Projects through modification orders.

• Weakening of assessments of impacts on agricultural land through integration into the coordinated project process

• ‘Access authorities’ which give the companies the right to enter onto private land to conduct construction, manufacturing or excavation works without the consent of the landholder 

• Increased powers for the Coordinator General to seize private land, including farms for private projects of State significance 

Environmental, agricultural and property rights groups have all made submissions expressing concerns with the bill, including Queensland Farmers Federation, Agforce, Cotton Australia, the Queensland Law Society and Property Rights Australia. Their submissions can be viewed here.