Currently in Queensland, the laws governing the resources
industry are spread across a number of acts, each applying to
different resource tenement types. Many concepts are replicated and
yet there are inconsistencies. The Newman Government has rightly
identified a need to move towards uniformity.
The Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act
2014 (the 'Act') will reform the land access framework
that governs the relationship between resource authority holders
and landholders. The Government says the new laws will support
"long term positive relationships" but, in reality, they
are not all good news for primary producers.
The changes, expected to commence in early 2015, will implement
a consistent but weakened restricted land framework across all
resource authority types, restrict the making of objections to
mining projects, provide for conduct and compensation agreements to
be noted on property titles, allow the Land Court to examine the
conduct of
