The Queensland Government says new legislation passed overnight will help to supercharge the state’s critical minerals sector.
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (2026) provides the Government with the tools to facilitate major projects and better position the state to compete for the global investment being directed towards critical minerals supply chains.
The laws come ahead of Premier David Crisafulli’s trade mission to the United States, which will focus on investment opportunities to accelerate extraction, processing and export of Queensland’s high-quality critical minerals to the world.
“Queensland has an extraordinary opportunity to become a global leader in critical minerals, and the Crisafulli Government is determined to seize that opportunity for the benefit of all Queenslanders,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jarrod Bleijie.
“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.
“We have worked closely with key stakeholders throughout the development of these reforms and listened to their feedback through the parliamentary process.”
Under the reforms, the declaration of a State Strategic Project will streamline approvals but will not automatically approve a project or remove existing environmental, planning, resources, or other approval requirements.
Strong protections in the Bill include retaining important safeguards for access authorities, including landholder consultation, notice requirements, compensation and rectification provisions.
The Bill also ensures modification orders cannot remove key authorisations, including environmental authorities, mining leases, development approvals, cultural heritage management plans or RIDAs where required.
They include:
- Excluding renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and battery projects, as well as data centres from eligibility to be declared State Strategic Projects.
- Ensuring a Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) remains a protected instrument where required, maintaining protections for regional interests including strategic cropping land and prime agricultural land.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation Chief Executive Officer, Kylie Porter said Queensland farmers welcomed the passage of the amended legislation, which maintained critical landholders’ protections for the state’s primary producers.
“QFF recognises that critical minerals projects offer a tremendous opportunity for the regions in terms of job creation and investment attraction. By retaining the RIDA as a protected instrument for our state’s strategic cropping and prime agricultural land, the Queensland Government has listened to farmers and shown that it will not be sacrificing our state’s best farming land for other uses,” Ms Porter said.
“Queenslanders are proud of the produce we grow in our state and understand that prime agricultural land is a finite resource that must be protected to ensure our future generations enjoy continued access to high-quality, locally grown food, fibre, and foliage.
“We thank the Queensland Government for its engagement throughout this process and QFF and our peak body members will continue to work with the government to ensure prime agricultural land is appropriately protected for future generations of Queenslanders.”
Cotton Australia General Manager, Michael Murray said the organisation was pleased that the Government had ensured that Regional Planning Interest Act provisions will protect strategic cropping and prime agricultural land.
“Queensland has only a very limited supply of the “best of the best” agricultural land, and this must be preserved to grow the food and fibre we need,” Mr Murray said.
Australian Energy Producers Director Queensland Keld Knudsen said new oil and gas supply would be critical to Queensland’s energy security, reliable electricity supply, regional industry and jobs.
“Queensland is competing for global capital, and investors need confidence that major projects can move through a predictable regulatory system while maintaining the strong environmental, landholder and community protections Queenslanders expect,” Mr Kundsen said.
“These reforms provide a stronger framework to help coordinate the complex approvals and infrastructure needed to bring investment in new supply forward.
“That is particularly important for new oil and gas opportunities, such as the Taroom and Denison Troughs, where developing new supply requires coordination across proponents, infrastructure and government approvals.
Queensland Resources Council Chief Executive Officer, Janette Hewson said the Bill would provide momentum for Queensland’s emerging critical minerals industry.
“In combination with Government’s Critical Minerals Strategy, the Bill is a welcome step forward, particularly its commitment to coordinated industry development, faster approvals, common-user infrastructure and a $250 million Critical Minerals Fund,” Ms Hewson said.
“These initiatives will help position Queensland at a time when we are competing with other states and countries around the world for critical minerals investment.”
