Property Rights Australia, Media Release, 15 June 2026
Queensland farmers are warning that the State’s quick-fire series of legislation amendments aimed to facilitate projects considered strategically important to Queensland have the potential to provide negative consequences to the future protection of agricultural land and regional communities.
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 follows closely behind planning measures for the Taroom Trough and the earlier changes that were supposed to address coal seam gas subsidence impacts on the Darling Down’s Condamine Alluvium.
Property Rights Australia Chair, Dale Stiller, said “Few farmers dispute the need for efficient decision-making or the importance of major projects to Queensland’s economy. The unresolved question with the Queensland government’s boots and all approach is why there isn’t equivalent effort being directed towards protecting agricultural land and farming businesses under these changes making available significant new powers to accelerate resource development.”
While the Bill is being promoted as an initiative for critical minerals, such as copper, silicon, graphite, vanadium, magnet metals; it applies much more broadly to any project of State or regional significance, from water security, energy infrastructure, to downstream processing. It creates new powers for major projects including expanded authority for land access, compulsory land acquisition, commencement of activity before completion of environmental assessment, and restricted appeal opportunities for landowners while project proponents retain full appeal rights. These provisions raise questions about bargaining power, adequate compensation and landholder agreements.
“Left unrestrained, the cumulative effect could be crushing for landowners,” said Mr Stiller, “This will be far worse than the current CSG negotiation regime. Farmers left exposed, powerless and the ability to protect strategic cropping land neutralised.”
The period provided for the public to respond to this latest Bill is only 23 days, only a little more than half of the recommended six weeks.
Property Rights Australia has called on the Queensland Parliament’s Primary Industries and Resources Committee extend the period for submissions and hearings.
“There is a lot at stake here” said Mr Stiller, “Full consideration needs to be given to the protection of landowner’s rights and this Nation’s food security to be kept in balance with fuel security and economic development.”
