Mining lease objections review
The Queensland Government has asked us to review and make recommendations about the processes to decide contested applications for mining leases in Queensland under the Mineral Resources Act 1989 and associated environmental authorities under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, including review of such decisions.
We have also been asked to consider:
- whether any changes we recommend should apply to applications for production tenures under particular resources Acts (the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009, the Geothermal Energy Act 2010, and the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004)
- how any changes we recommend will interact with decisions made under a range of other Queensland Government and Australian Government Acts
- the implications of other Acts, including
- Human Rights Act 2019
- Judicial Review Act 1991.
The public and private interests in mining projects include ensuring ongoing investment and sustainable growth in resource projects, and protecting the environment, cultural heritage, community, agricultural and landowner interests. The mining objections process is one way those interests are taken into account in making decisions about mining projects.
Terms of Reference
The Commission received Terms of Reference from the Attorney-General on 5 April 2023 for a review starting on 5 June 2023.
Timeline
Current Status
On 15 November 2024, we published a submissions paper that summarises the submissions we received in response to our first two consultation papers. We will consult further as we seek to finalise our recommendations.
On 15 November 2024 we also published our final consultation paper that considers other resource production tenures.
Have your say
Read the video transcript.
Meetings and forums
There will be opportunities to attend meetings and forums to share your views until the end of January 2025.
From July to November 2024, we met with stakeholders in various parts of Queensland, including in Brisbane, Dalby, Emerald, Moranbah, Woorabinda, Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Camooweal, Burketown, Hope Vale, Cooktown and Cairns.
To stay informed about upcoming meetings and forums, and receive other mining lease objections review updates, please subscribe to our mailing list.
Submissions
We are now accepting submissions in response to our final consultation paper Conscious consistency: mining and other resource production tenures. Submissions close on 31 January 2025.
To make a submission, please visit the 'Make a submission' page or email us at qlrc-miningobjections@justice.qld.gov.au
Thank you to those who made submissions in response to our consultation papers Reimagining decision-making processes for Queensland Mining and Valuing the perspectives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These submissions are now published on the Submissions page. We have also released a submissions paper that summarises the submissions we received.
More information
If you would like more information on the mining review, email: qlrc-miningobjections@justice.qld.gov.au
Timeline
