Backlash after critical minerals Bill passes amid farmers’ concerns
A bill granting “extraordinary powers” to speed up development is sparking concerns from farmers and landholders.
A controversial critical minerals bill was passed by Queensland parliament last week, sparking criticism from farmers and landholders who claim it does not have enough safeguards.
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (2026) has been touted by the state government as being essential in backing Queensland’s critical-minerals boom.
It allows for projects to be declared “state strategic” by the government, meaning they can be streamlined through a suite of new powers granted to the coordinator-general.
The but the new laws triggered backlash from industry organisations including Lock the Gate, Property Rights Australia, Agforce, the Queensland Farmers Federation, the Queensland Law Society, Cotton Australia, local government, and conservationists.
They claim it puts too much power in the hands of the planning minister and erodes fundamental legal safeguards.
Queensland Conservation Council Acting Director Anthony Gough said the laws were rejected by a broad coalition of farming bodies, environmentalists and legal experts.
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“Conservationists remain deeply concerned this law will be used to ram through a range of damaging projects – including developments in National Parks – without community consultation or respect for the environmental damage they will cause,” he said.
But Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Development Jarrod Bleijie said Queensland has an opportunity to become a global leader in critical minerals.
“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,” 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.”
The Queensland Labor Opposition voted against the Bill, with Deputy Opposition leader Cameron Dick saying industry backlash had caused the Queensland Government to “backflip on its latest power grab.”
“The Deputy Premier Bleijie was forced to rush through 12 last-minute amendments in a concession the critical minerals bill was nothing more than an overreach and power grab from an arrogant government,” Dick said.
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He added that the Deputy Premier had been rightfully criticised for not consulting with stakeholders and ramming through extraordinary powers.
“Sadly, for Queenslanders, the Deputy Premier refused to change many elements of the bill which simply give him too much power over Queenslanders’ properties.”
Dale Stiller, Chair of Property Rights Australia (PRA) said criticised the government’s reaction to twelve last minute amendments.
“Claims were made by the Deputy Premier 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.”
The two most notable amendments excluded renewable energy projects including data centres from being declared State Strategic Projects and ensuring Regional Interests Development Approvals (RIDA) remain protected.
“This Bill that provides disproportionate powers that can still be used indiscriminately. It is time the Planning Minister was put back in the box so as to not spring out with more unpleasant surprises.”
Lock the Gate Alliance National Coordinator Ellen Roberts said that from Friday, Queenslanders have fewer rights and less say on the mining and infrastructure developments that affect them.
“These laws mark a dark new chapter for democracy in Queensland,” she said. “In substance this amendment does not retain rights for farmers.”
She explained that these laws hand the Deputy Premier unprecedented powers to override community rights to fast-track a wide range of private development projects, from coal mines and gas fields to weapons facilities and new infrastructure.
“The government made a very small amendment to the legislation last night requiring a ‘regional interest development approval’ if the project is on prime agricultural land,” Roberts said.
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