A federal Nationals MP from Queensland has expressed concern about changes to state mining and environment laws proposed by the state Liberal National Party Government. A controversial Crisafulli government proposal would restrict landholders’ rights to information and to challenge mining projects affecting their communities.
Wed 7 Oct 2026 01.00 AEDT
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A federal Nationals MP from Queensland has expressed concern about changes to state mining and environment laws proposed by the state Liberal National Party Government.
A controversial Crisafulli government proposal would restrict landholders’ rights to information and to challenge mining projects affecting their communities.
Under the proposal, some smaller mining proposals would no longer be required to provide public notification, or be subject to submission and objection processes.
It would also restrict who can object to larger mining projects, with only relevant local councils and landholders within 125 kilometres of the proposed mining lease boundary considered “eligible entities”. Landholders that are further than 125 kilometres away but still potentially affected, such as through impacts on rivers or aquifers, may not be able to object.
Properly made objections would no longer go to the independent Queensland Land Court, but instead “the relevant decision-maker would have discretion to decide whether a matter should be referred to the Land Court”, according to Anna Vella, Director at Brisbane-based P&E Law.
Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien told The Point he supported measures to prevent vexatious objections and unnecessary delays to mining projects but said directly impacted farmers and landholders must retain access to an independent hearing.
“My concern is that this bill would allow the minister responsible for promoting mining development to control whether a mining lease objection reaches the Land Court,” he said.
“Governments have a vested interest in the jobs, investment and revenue these projects generate, making independent scrutiny particularly important when landholder interests are at stake.”
Queensland Senator Susan McDonald agreed that farmers and other directly affected landholders must retain the right to object where a project affects their land or legitimate interests.
“People genuinely affected by a mining project should absolutely have a voice, but the approvals system should not be weaponised by activist groups with no real connection to the community simply to delay projects, destroy investment and put regional jobs at risk,” she said.
Queensland’s Nationals MPs David Littleproud, Colin Boyce, Michelle Landry and David Batt did not respond to questions from The Point, while Andrew Willcox’s office said he was travelling.
Nationals leader and Queensland senator Matt Canavan also did not respond.
Queensland’s LNP government described the reforms as “historic”, saying they would streamline an “archaic” mining lease approvals process.
“For years Queensland has been subject to environmental lawfare driven by activists based in Melbourne designed to shut down one of Queensland’s largest industries at the detriment of workers and regional communities that rely on mining,” said QLD Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last.
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Mr Last said it would “remove ideologically driven objections” and prevent “another New Acland experience”, referring to the battle between the New Acland coal mine and the Oakey Coal Action Alliance (OCAA). The OCAA spent around a decade challenging the Darling Downs coal mine expansion in court, arguing the project could damage groundwater supplies, destroy high-quality farming land and pose a risk to people’s health.
“The New Acland coal mine fight was led by local dairy farmers living next door to the mine who wanted to protect their farms and groundwater from the damage caused by coal mining,” said Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Ellen Roberts.
“Minister Last’s attempt to paint community objectors as out-of-towners is an affront to every Queenslander who speaks out to protect food security and the environment.”
Stage 3 of the project received approvals in 2022, with OCAA continuing to challenge its water licence until withdrawing a final appeal in January 2025.
OCAA President and dairy farmer David Vonhoff told the Courier Mail the Crisafulli government was being “incredibly naive and ignorant about issues around food security, climate and the environment”.
“The very last thing Queenslanders need is to have our rights trampled,” he said.
“If it can deny your right to object, then we are living with tyranny.
“It is an irony that the minister knows so little that he does not know that the people who objected to the Acland mine are the people who are exempted from his new laws.”
The Queensland Greens described the proposed new laws as “corrupt, dangerous and undemocratic” and accused mining giants of “buying special treatment”.
“It’s pay to play under this Government. If you’re a big political donor like Adani or Clive Palmer, you get the red carpet treatment – but if you’re a regular voter, the door’s slammed shut,” said Greens MP Michael Berkman.
Senator McDonald said the reforms dealt specifically with mining lease applications and associated environmental approvals.
“They do not remove farmers’ rights in relation to renewable energy projects or create a general restriction on landholders objecting to developments on their property,” she said.
“I would strongly oppose any attempt to use these changes as a precedent for stripping landholders of their rights.”
