“The mental health toll on farmers is becoming impossible to ignore our community is carrying the stress, uncertainty, and frustrations of a system that refuses to hear them.”

Those are the words of Limestone Coast Sustainable Futures Association (LCSFA) chairman Todd Woodard, who has issued a blistering condemnation of the state government’s proposed Mining Act reforms — warning the legislation further eroded farmers’ rights and silenced regional voices already pushed to breaking point. Mr Woodard said that behind the policy debate was a deeper, more urgent reality: farmers were exhausted, anxious, and feeling abandoned.

The Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill 2025, tabled in Parliament last month, proposes sweeping changes to the Mining Act 1971 — reforms that Mr Woodard said were “designed to fast-track mining expansion at the expense of agricultural landholders and the environment.”

“The government has ignored every reasonable call for stronger land-use protection, independent oversight, and transparent rehabilitation. Instead, these reforms hand even more power to the minister and the mining sector — at the expense of farming families and the environment,” Mr Woodard said.

“These so-called ‘modernising’ reforms make it easier for exploration and mining companies to occupy productive farmland and harder for farmers to protect their livelihoods,” he claimed.

He warned that without genuine partnership and protections, the reforms risk undermining the long-term sustainability of South Australia’s food, fibre and wine sectors — and the communities that support them.

Concerns over expanded powers and decades-long tenures

While the government argues the Bill will “drive productive exploration and mining activity, increase investment, and modernise regulatory consistency,” regional leaders say the reality tells a different story.

Under the proposed changes, exploration licences could be extended beyond 18 years through rolling five-year extensions, with further renewals possible at the minister’s discretion — effectively locking up farmland for decades.

The Bill also expands ministerial powers, lengthens mining tenure, and fails to strengthen rehabilitation requirements or introduce new land-use safeguards.

LCSF’s submission to the review called for:

• Stronger conflict-resolution processes
• Independent oversight of exploration approvals
• Binding rehabilitation standards
• Clear consultation processes with affected landowners

LCSF said none of these recommendations appeared in the final Bill.

“It’s clear that consultation was a box-ticking exercise — rushed through with just five days for the public to respond. Best practice is usually a minimum of 30 days,” Mr Woodard said.

“From the outside it appears this legislation was drafted not to balance economic and environmental interests in the regions most impacted but to support further exploration and mining investment.”

Praise for MPs who opposed the reform

Mr Woodard commended independent MPs Fraser Ellis, Nick McBride, and Geoff Brock — the only members of parliament to vote against the Bill.

He said the LCSFA would ramp up its advocacy ahead of the 2026 state election to push for genuine oversight and protections that uphold the economic future of the state’s agricultural sector.

“Farmers deserve the right to manage their land without being overridden by distant decisions made in Adelaide. Once these rights are eroded, they’re lost forever,” he said.

“This Bill gives sweeping powers to the minister while silencing the very people who live and work on the land.”

He said the government must come back to the table with genuine consultation.

“If they continue down this path, they risk undermining the very foundation of South Australia’s agricultural economy.”

Government defends consultation, says landholder rights remain untouched

A Department for Energy and Mining spokesperson rejected suggestions that the reforms diminish landowner rights or weaken environmental standards.

“The Department for Energy and Mining undertook consultation on an issues paper covering a broader range of reforms to the Mining Act earlier this year,” the spokesperson told this newspaper. According to the department, consultation ran from 30 April to 28 May.

“43 submissions were received from a wide range of stakeholders including primary producers, regional community organisations, environmental organisations, landholders and community members,” the spokesperson said.

“This process was followed by a targeted consultation on the draft Bill with key stakeholders and peak bodies, with further public submissions also invited at this time. The Statutes Amendment (Energy and Mining Reforms) Bill 2025 contains a limited range of time critical reforms to the Mining Act.”

The department continues to monitor the effectiveness of the Act, and according to the spokesperson, was committed to continue engagement with the community on other issues raised during the consultation process.

“The Bill includes a ministerial discretion to extend exploration licences in special circumstances, approve changes in corporate control and forfeiture of tenements to the state for significant breaches of the Act.

“The proposed amendments do not modify or reduce landowner rights, or existing processes under the Act that relate to the granting of mining tenure or the regulation of exploration activity.”

Environmental management requirements remain unchanged, with the Bill aiming to “improve environmental rehabilitation outcomes” through an expanded Mining Rehabilitation Fund.

The department also pointed to a 2024 regional engagement survey, which included input from 159 Limestone Coast residents.

“A total of 159 community members took part in this process, and all findings have been released publicly.”

The Bill will return to the House of Assembly for a final vote at a later date.

This article appeared in The Naracoorte News, 3 December 2025.