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Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

Greenhouse gas storage in Queensland

On 12 June 2024, legislative changes were introduced to permanently ban all greenhouse gas (GHG) storage and injection activities in Queensland’s Great Artesian Basin (GAB).

Prohibiting activities that involve the storage or injection of GHG streams into the GAB will protect its unique environmental, social, economic, and cultural values from the potential safety and environmental risks posed by carbon dioxide injection.

Scope of the ban

The ban applies to all existing and future proposals within the Queensland GAB boundaries, including:

  • GHG storage activities, such as carbon capture and storage, under the Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009 (GGS Act)
  • enhanced petroleum recovery using a GHG stream under the Petroleum Act 1923 and the Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004
  • environmental approvals and applications under the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

For the purpose of the ban the GAB is defined as the area covered under the Water Plan (Great Artesian Basin and Other Regional Aquifers) 2017 (PDF, 1.2MB)

Legislative changes

The Mineral and Energy Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 (the MEROLA Bill) was passed by the Queensland Parliament on 12 June 2024, with the amendments taking effect upon assent of the MEROLA Act 2024 on 18 June 2024. The key changes include:

Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2009

  • Ends all current GHG exploration permits in the GAB and withdraws all related applications. The GAB is now classified as unavailable land for future GHG exploration, storage, and lease applications.

Petroleum Act 1923 and Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004

  • Prohibits enhanced petroleum recovery using a GHG stream in the GAB and withdraws existing applications proposing to use such activities in the GAB.

Environmental Protection Act 1994

  • Ends existing environmental approvals and applications for GHG exploration and GHG stream injection in the GAB.
  • Future applications for these activities are prohibited.
  • Existing environmental authorities now include a mandatory condition preventing enhanced petroleum recovery using GHG stream in the GAB.

Future GHG storage activities outside the GAB

GHG storage and enhanced petroleum recovery using GHG streams may still be considered in areas outside the GAB. These activities will be subject to Queensland’s existing regulatory framework, which includes rigorous environmental, social, and economic assessments.

Any land release for future GHG storage will be subject to existing regulatory approval processes.

Contact

Email futureeconomy@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au for more information.

Additional information

Last updated
15 September 2025
Last reviewed
21 June 2024