QRC laments Qld Govt legislation to allow 'global' objections to mines

QUEENSLAND'S mine objection laws "open the floodgates for anti-resources activists, from Broome to Berlin, to disrupt and delay projects" according to the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

QRC chief executive Michael Roche said, "The Palaszczuk Government’s Mineral and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (MOLA) passed today, overturns aspects of Newman government legislation that was set to streamline the objection process for mining projects in Queensland." 

Mr Roche claimed the new law was "yet another to add to the stack that made it harder to get on with business in the state, despite the resources sector being one of the heavy lifters in the economy, generating one in every six jobs and injecting $2.1 billion in royalties over the past financial year alone". 

"The QRC understands that MOLA delivers the Palaszczuk Government’s election promise to wind back amendments made by the Newman government to streamline the objection process for mining projects in Queensland," Mr Roche said.

"We agree the community should have an avenue for their concerns to be heard about mining projects, however this should not equate to multiple years in the Land Court spent frustrating and delaying what is supposed to be an administrative process only, not a Hollywood-style courtroom hearing."

Mr Roche said there were currently multiple pathways available to object about a project and the QRC supported the previous government’s efforts to provide clarity to objectors as to the appropriate pathway where there were concerns about a mining project.

"QRC maintains that an objection right under the mining legislation is an unnecessary double-up of the environmental objection under environmental legislation in Queensland," Mr Roche said.

"The government must act to protect future investment in the resources sector for all Queenslanders as we are at a crossroad where every new project could be held up in court for several years. 

"At a cost of about $1 million a day spent in court, this is an unacceptable message to send out to investors and potential investors in Australia and overseas.

"To make matters worse, under this law you don’t even have to be a resident of Queensland to object to the grant of a mining lease in Queensland. You could be living in another state or in a foreign country and be able to lodge an objection.

"The QRC once again calls on the Palaszczuk Government to urgently overhaul the Land Court system so that resource projects are not subject to onerous delays that are holding up job-creating projects for Queensland."

www.qrc.org.au

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