On 20 May 2020, the Mineral and Energy Resources and
Other Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (Qld)
(the MEROLA) passed in Queensland
Parliament. The changes introduced by the MEROLA have
staggered start dates, with the first provisions already in effect
from 1 July 2020.
This article explores some of the most significant changes
included in the MEROLA and discusses their impact on the sector,
while also suggesting possible steps to address some of the
intended (and unintended) consequences of the changes. All of
the provisions considered in this article will come into effect
from 7 September 2020.
Notably, the MEROLA has introduced industrial manslaughter
provisions for the resources sector, a detailed summary of which
can be found here.
