A controversial bill greatly expanding Queensland government powers to fast-track major projects, including around critical minerals, has been waved through parliamentary scrutiny by LNP MPs.
The decision comes despite Labor, the Katter’s Australian Party, legal experts, environment and farming bodies raising reservations about whether the powers are needed, and how to safeguard their use.
After only three weeks for public submissions, and one public hearing, the primary industries and resources committee released its report calling for the bill’s passage – without change – on Friday.
Introducing the bill in early June, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie – who would wield the new ministerial powers under his portfolios – cited the state’s push for critical minerals.
In doing so, he referenced the deal between the Albanese government and US president Donald Trump to unlock a multibillion-dollar pipeline of such projects – which the state has seized on.
But he also said the powers would not be limited to that sector alone, suggesting it would also be used to drive ecotourism projects and more through new “state significance” declarations.
“Queensland should not create a very large hammer before it has properly identified the nail.”Katter’s Australian Party leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter
These will create a new requirement for coordinator-general consultation with the minister on such project decisions, and a new ministerial power to bypass existing laws on a case-by-case basis.
The proposed laws will also broaden compulsory land acquisition powers, to allow the transfer of privately owned land to another private entity for a private project, and tighten appeal rights.
In a statement of reservation included in the committee report, its Labor MPs cited concerns from AgForce, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation and Local Government Association of Queensland.
Labor MPs also pointed to concerns from the Environmental Defenders Office, First Nations groups and the Queensland Law Society – including their view on the removal of merit-based appeals.
Doing so “systematically disenfranchises regional and remote residents, who this legislation will impact most”, the law society wrote in its submission.
“As stated, these communities lack the financial resources to bring matters in the Supreme Court, making the removal of standard third-party objector rights a functional denial of natural justice.”
Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said in his own statement of reservation that while he supported the broad intent of the laws, he questioned the need and safeguards for new powers.
“Underuse of an existing power is not, by itself, an argument for handing government a much larger one,” Katter said.
“Queensland should not create a very large hammer before it has properly identified the nail.
“The bill risks allowing governments to pick winners instead of building an industry.”
The committee also heard from mining industry peak bodies and critical mineral firms supportive of the bill, including Australian Energy Producers and the Queensland Resources Council.
“The Bill provides an important and timely foundation for Queensland’s critical minerals future,” committee chair Stephen Bennett wrote in his forward to the report.
Parliament returns for its first three-day sitting since the June budget on August 25.
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