A Queensland bill working through parliament would give the state government expanded powers to compulsorily acquire private land to support private development, with a parliamentary inquiry into the changes due to report by August 7 after receiving more than 90 submissions.
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie on 2 June, framed around attracting investment to Queensland’s critical minerals sector.
But Mr Bleijie has told parliament the bill’s powers would apply well beyond that sector.
“Critical minerals are the immediate focus,” he said in the report.
“However, these amendments will create pathways and powers applicable for any project of strategic significance to the state.”
Mr Bleijie has pointed to the $140 million Whitsunday Skytree cable-car project between Airlie Beach and Conway National Park as an example of how the changes could be used.
“If there are issues with land ownership and tenure, we can utilise acquisition powers a lot quicker now under this new legislation,” he said.
Gold Coast hinterland farmers Matt and Caitlin Wood fear their 120-hectare Springbrook property could be affected by the changes, given a long-proposed cableway through World Heritage rainforest near their land.
“We have conservation acts, we have regulations and a private party wanting to develop something has to go through those dedicated requirements,” Mr Wood told The Guardian.
“But if the government deems that, for whatever reason, they want that party to be above that – that seems just ridiculous.”
Darling Downs grower Liza Balmain, who farms near Cecil Plains, said she was concerned the bill could be used to override a regional interests development approval standing between her community and coal seam gas extraction.
“Arrow has been trying to get in here since 2010 and we’ve just been keeping them at bay.”
The bill has drawn criticism from legal and environmental groups.
Queensland Law Society president Peter Jolly told parliament the bill amounted to a “systematic removal of third-party appeal and objection rights across multiple frameworks”, describing the removal of merit-based appeals to the Planning and Environment Court as “a functional denial of natural justice.”
Queensland Conservation Council acting director Anthony Gough said the bill was “incredibly far-ranging” and could hand the development minister power to “cut out whole laws from the decision-making process” for projects including those in national parks.
Mining groups have backed the changes.
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Janette Hewson said proponents currently need approvals from multiple state departments as well as the federal government for a mine extension or new mine.
“[The new legislation means] the coordinator-general can coordinate… and effectively do the assessment in one go,” she said.
The Local Government Association of Queensland has also supported the bill’s intent to reduce duplication and enable more efficient project delivery.
In a statement, Mr Bleijie said existing approvals such as regional interests development approvals were not affected by the bill, and that the government was “sending a clear message to the resources, critical minerals, even tourism sectors, as well as communities.”
The Primary Industries and Resources Committee examining the bill has said its report, due August 7, could still lead to significant changes before any vote in parliament.