The laws that govern interactions between resource authority
holders and landholders have changed with the commencement on 27
September 2016 of relevant parts of the Mineral and Energy
Resources (Common Provisions) Act (Act).
The Act has a long history. A creation of the Newman Government,
it had passed through parliament but not commenced when the 2015
election was called. We
previously reported that much of what the Newman Government
sought to achieve as between resource authority holders and
landholders was unwelcome news for primary producers.
Since the change of Government in early 2015, the Act has been
reviewed and amended by the Palaszczuk Government and has now
become law. Fortunately, the former Government's most
controversial changes (to objection rights and the restricted land
regime) have been scrapped, maintaining some fairness for
landholders and the broader community.
