The Queensland government has made the decision to cancel the mining lease objections processes review, a move welcomed by the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (Amec).

The review, initiated by the previous government, was led by the Queensland Law Reform Commission. It began in June 2023 but has now been officially withdrawn, effective March 4, 2025. 

The review's focus was to examine the processes surrounding objections to mining lease applications, but Amec has voiced its support for the government's decision to discontinue the review.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, CEO Warren Pearce praised the move. “This review was treading over old ground, and many of the issues already have dedicated actions under way.”

Pearce further noted the review’s extended timeline, saying that it started almost two years ago and was yet to deliver an outcome.

The recently elected Crisafulli government has stated that advancing Queensland’s resource industry will be a priority, with the Resources Cabinet Committee (RCC) established as part of its first 100-day plan. The committee is tasked with considering new initiatives to bolster the competitiveness of Queensland's resources sector.

According to Pearce, shifting the review's agenda to the RCC is a step forward for both the industry and the community. “Moving the mining lease objection review to the agenda of the RCC is a positive step for the industry and the community. There are great opportunities for new projects, growth, and jobs in Queensland.”

The cancellation of the review aligns with Amec’s focus on removing regulatory obstacles, with Pearce emphasising that the industry is in favour of streamlining processes to improve approval time frames. “Spending less time on reviews and more time on solutions to reduce delays and improve approval time frames is supported by industry.”

Further, Amec has raised concerns that the review was duplicating existing processes. As pointed out in their submission to the Queensland Law Reform Commission, potential changes stemming from the review could lead to unnecessary administration and undermined the expertise of the mining and exploration sectors.

“There are already multiple processes in place for the community to challenge projects they deem unworthy in their local area. To have people and professional protestors from outside the state holding up projects is anti-productive. Amec will continue to work closely with Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Dale Las MP, for better and quicker outcomes for all stakeholders through the RCC.”