Activists claim that Queensland’s new legislation will severely limit residents' ability to oppose mining projects, including coal mines. The bill would require objectors to own property within 125 kilometers of a project site and obtain ministerial approval to have their concerns heard in court. Minister Dale Last defends the measure as necessary for streamlining approvals and reducing delays, while critics like Anthony Gough from Queensland Conservation Council argue it undermines democratic rights and environmental protections by giving officials discretion over which objections are referred to the land court.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Queensland government introduced new legislation that significantly limits public opposition to mining projects by requiring objectors to own property within 125km of a proposed mine and obtain ministerial approval to be heard in court. Activists argue this move "guts" the rights of Queenslanders to oppose such projects, calling it corrupt and anti-democratic. The Greens and community group Lock the Gate Alliance claim the government is prioritizing mining companies over environmental protections and public engagement. Minister for Natural Resources Dale Last counters that the bill aims to streamline approvals and reduce delays in project timelines, citing past legal battles as justification. Queensland already produces most of Australia’s coal and is the country's second-largest mining industry hub, making this policy change particularly significant given its impact on both local communities and environmental protections.
Written for “Queensland Mining Laws Controversy” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Queenslanders’ right to object to mining projects – including coal – would be “gutted” by new legislation that would ban opponents from being heard in court without the minister’s approval and then only if they owned a property within a 125km radius of the project.
left describes the impact of the law negatively, suggesting it undermines democratic rights
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The Greens have called the move “corrupt” and community action group Lock the Gate Alliance said the state’s LNP government was “tearing up democratic and environmental protections just to make life easier for mining companies”.
left criticizes the legislation as corrupt and harmful to democracy and environment
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Anthony Gough, acting director of Queensland Conservation Council, said that would mean the minister of the day could “pick and choose which community objections get heard in open court, and which mines get waved through without that scrutiny”.
left criticizes the bill for giving ministers discretion to ignore objections
Leaning score -0.60 for article 12519 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-09-16
Queenslanders’ right to object to mining projects – including coal – would be “gutted” by new legislation that would ban opponents from being heard in court without the minister’s approval and then only if they owned a property within a 125km radius of the project.
asserted
they → object → project
The Greens have called the move “corrupt” and community action group Lock the Gate Alliance said the state’s LNP government was “tearing up democratic and environmental protections just to make life easier for mining companies”.
asserted
life → call → companies
The state’s minister for natural resources, Dale Last, who tabled the legislation on Tuesday, said that the bill was “about streamlining approvals and making faster decisions”.
asserted
bill → table → decisions
“Activists based thousands of kilometres away and green groups funded by foreign overseas entities are no longer eligible to have a say,” he said.
asserted
he → base → say
“Objections received from a person or group outside the 125km boundary whose interests would not be affected will no longer be accepted”.
asserted
interests → receive → boundary
Queensland produces most of Australia’s coal and has the country’s second-largest mining industry, behind Western Australia.
asserted
Queensland → produce → Australia
Under current law an objection to a mining project is automatically referred to the state’s land court for independent consideration.
asserted
objection → refer → consideration
The legislation will amend that by giving the decision-maker the discretion whether or not to refer it on to the court.
asserted
legislation → amend → court
Anthony Gough, acting director of Queensland Conservation Council, said that would mean the minister of the day could “pick and choose which community objections get heard in open court, and which mines get waved through without that scrutiny”.
uncertain
mines → act → scrutiny
He said the bill “strips community members of their right to have their objection to damaging mining projects heard in court”.
asserted
objection → say → court
“The vast majority of objections are made by local groups and landholders to protect agricultural land as well as local bushland, native habitat or water resources.
asserted
majority → make → land
It was this process that led to the cessation of sand mining on World Heritage-listed K’Gari [Fraser Island].
asserted
that → lead → K’Gari
“Queenslanders should be able to protect every inch of the state from inappropriate and invasive mining.
asserted
Queenslanders → protect → mining
They shouldn’t be denied that right simply because they live more than 125km away from a particular mine.”
asserted
they → deny → mine
The government last year cancelled a months-long review of the laws dealing with objections to mining leases by the independent Queensland Law Reform Commission, weeks before it would have released its findings.
asserted
it → cancel → findings
It replaced the review with one conducted by a cabinet sub-committee.
asserted
It → replace → committee
Last told parliament objections were “one of the biggest hindrances on project timelines and delays” and the government was “laser focused on improving approval timeframes”.
“You only need to look at the debacle of the long-running legal battle that the New Acland coal mine expansion experienced to understand that this process has to change,” he said.
asserted
he → tell → that
The legal battle against the mine lasted 11 years, and went all the way to the high court.
asserted
battle → last → court
A spokesperson for the Oakey Coal Action alliance, a group of local farmers which litigated the case for 11 years, said the group had won its right to be heard at the high court.
asserted
group → litigate → court
“As is evident now, King Coal also heard and had the Queensland Government change the laws so we could not win again,” the spokesperson said.
uncertain
spokesperson → hear → laws
“What the laws are designed to do is to stop anyone who understands we are in a climate crisis from objecting to putting more CO2 in the atmosphere.”
asserted
we → design → atmosphere
Lock the Gate Alliance national coordinator, Ellen Roberts, said the government was “tearing up democratic and environmental protections just to make life easier for mining companies – it is following Campbell Newman’s playbook to the letter”.
asserted
it → say → letter
Queensland’s LNP government dramatically expanded objection rights against planning approvals for wind farms last year, and recently passed legislation permitting the government to compulsorily acquire land for coal mining.
asserted
government → expand → mining
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