Queensland committee approves critical minerals bill amid farmer and environmental protests

Queensland's primary industries and resources parliamentary committee released an unaltered report recommending the passage of the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) Amendment Bill 2026, despite receiving 1,303 public submissions. Conservationists, led by North Queensland Conservation Council coordinator Crystal Falknau, warned the bill would allow the government to override environmental approvals, while AgForce president Shane McCarthy cautioned that farmers could lose negotiating power with mining firms.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie defended the legislation, citing safeguards such as parliamentary oversight and a mandatory six-month landowner consultation period, and framed it as essential for tapping into the Australia-US critical minerals partnership. Protests erupted outside Liberal National Party offices, including a rally at Whitsundays MP Amanda Camm's office, where she pledged to address concerns during the upcoming parliamentary debate. The bill is slated for debate when the Queensland parliament reconvenes next week.