Mining lease objections reforms

The Queensland Government has introduced the Mineral Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which proposes changes to the mining lease objections framework to create a streamlined, targeted and more efficient pathway for how mining leases and environmental authorities are assessed.

Mining projects currently require approvals under both the Mineral Resources Act 1989 (MR Act) and the Environmental Protection Act 1994 (EP Act). The proposed reforms would clarify how these processes work together, including how objections are considered.

The Bill would amend the MR Act and the EP Act.

Proposed changes

The proposed reforms would:

clarify who can make an objection to an application for a mining lease and its associated environmental authority
clarify the matters that can be raised in an objection
change how objections are considered and how matters may be referred to the Land Court
reduce duplication between mining lease and environmental authority assessment processes
remove public notification, submission and objection processes for low-risk applications for environmental authorities
improve coordination of public notification processes for mining lease and related environmental authority applications.

Environmental assessment

Environmental impacts would continue to be assessed under the EP Act framework. The proposed reforms clarify how environmental matters are considered within the broader mining lease approvals framework.

Applications already underway

The Bill also includes arrangements to manage mining lease and environmental authority applications already being assessed when the reforms take effect.

Find out more

The Mineral Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 has been referred to a Parliamentary Committee for consideration.

For more information on this committee process, or to provide feedback on the Bill, visit the Primary Industries and Resources Committee website.

Mining lease objections reforms

Proposed changes

Environmental assessment

Applications already underway

Find out more

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