A deep open pit copper ore mine in regional Australia. Image: Shutterstock

NEW laws designed to accelerate major resources and critical minerals projects in Queensland have passed State Parliament, but rural landholder groups have warned that last-minute concessions to agriculture did not go far enough to protect agricultural businesses from potentially far-reaching ministerial powers.

The Crisafulli Government said in a media release this morning that its State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 will help Queensland compete for global critical minerals investment while maintaining protections for agricultural land and landholder rights.

However, landholder representative group Property Rights Australia said amendments introduced to strengthen agricultural protections only came about as a direct result of sustained pressure from farming and property rights groups, and significant concerns remain over powers contained in the legislation.

The Queensland Government media release said the new laws allow major projects to be declared State Strategic Projects, providing a mechanism to streamline their approvals.

It said that such a declaration will not automatically approve a project or remove existing environmental, planning, resources or other approval requirements.

Amendments made to the legislation include excluding renewable energy projects such as solar, wind and battery projects, as well as data centres, from eligibility to become State Strategic Projects.

The amended laws also retain Regional Interests Development Approvals (RIDA) as a protected instrument where required, which the Government said maintained an important layer of protection for strategic cropping and prime agricultural land.

Other safeguards retained under the legislation include requirements relating to landholder consultation, notice, compensation and rectification for access authorities.

The Crisafulli Government says the Bill also ensures modification orders cannot remove key authorisations, including environmental authorities, mining leases, development approvals, cultural heritage management plans or RIDAs where required.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the Government had sought to balance resources development with agriculture and landholder protections.

“We back our resources sector, we back regional Queensland and we back the farmers and agricultural communities that are such an important part of our State,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Queensland does not have to choose between resources and agriculture – we need both, and this legislation reflects our commitment to getting that balance right.

“We have worked closely with key stakeholders throughout the development of these reforms and listened to their feedback through the parliamentary process.”

RIDA protection welcomed

In the same Queensland Government media release, Queensland Farmers’ Federation welcomed passage of the amended legislation, particularly the retention of RIDA protections for important agricultural land.

QFF chief executive officer Kylie Porter said critical minerals development could provide significant regional economic opportunities while strategic cropping and prime agricultural land needed to remain protected.

“QFF recognises that critical minerals projects offer a tremendous opportunity for the regions in terms of job creation and investment attraction. By retaining the RIDA as a protected instrument for our state’s strategic cropping and prime agricultural land, the Queensland Government has listened to farmers and shown that it will not be sacrificing our state’s best farming land for other uses,” Ms Porter said.

Farm group pressure forced changes: PRA

Property Rights Australia has taken a significantly more critical view of the legislation, arguing the amendments ultimately adopted by the Government resulted from campaigning by agricultural and landholder groups rather than adequate consultation during development of the Bill.

PRA chair Dale Stiller credited Property Rights Australia, Save Our Darling Downs, AgForce and other organisations with forcing changes.

“Those amendments would never have been possible if it hadn’t been for the committed awareness campaign by Property Rights Australia, Save our Darling Downs and AgForce, who together with other supporting organisations resolutely pointed out considerable problems with the proposed changes,” Mr Stiller said.

He disputed Government claims that the changes demonstrated it had listened through consultation, arguing agricultural and community groups had not been consulted when the original Bill was developed.

“Claims were made by the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie MP and other government speakers in the debate before passing this legislation that the amendments were a sign the government had listened to consultation, when in fact the instigators of this flawed bill had been caught out,” Mr Stiller said.

“There had been no consultation with agriculture or community groups in the development of the Bill.”

Concerns remain over ministerial powers

While welcoming the restoration of RIDA as a protected instrument, PRA argues the amendment does not resolve its broader concerns about modification orders and the powers available to the Planning Minister.

The organisation says considerable power remains with the minister of the day to override other laws on a case-by-case basis.

PRA also remains concerned about provisions it says allow modification orders to override other Acts without returning to Parliament, compulsory acquisition of private land for private benefit and limited appeal rights.

“The Planning Minister can be dismissive of agriculture and community voices until the pressure comes on; it is another matter to have so little regard for important principles of rule of law, legislative standards and property rights that together are the stability for our democracy,” Mr Stiller said.

“Remaining intact are the most significant departures of these principles with modification orders to override other Acts without taking them to parliament, compulsory acquisition of private land for private benefit and limited appeal rights.”

PRA also questioned what future governments could do with the powers contained in the legislation.

Mr Stiller pointed to Mr Bleijie’s criticism during parliamentary debate of vegetation management and Reef Protection laws introduced by the former Labor Government, arguing the same consideration should be applied to powers being created by the current Government.

“True Mr Bleijie, but rural Queensland does not need another bad law which the ALP will readily use when they are again in power.”

The Government, meanwhile, maintains the legislation strengthens safeguards while providing a more effective framework to facilitate major projects.

“This legislation gives us the tools to attract investment, create jobs and build new industries, particularly in rural and regional Queensland where the benefits of critical minerals development can be transformational,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The Crisafulli Government will continue to back responsible development that creates jobs, attracts investment and strengthens Queensland’s sovereign industrial capability, while protecting landholders, agricultural interests, communities and the environment.”

Sources: Queensland Government, Property Rights Australia