Take Action! EMAIL YOUR MP HERE!
On 2 June 2026, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie, Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations introduced a Bill to fast-track critical minerals and other "State significant" projects (read his Ministerial Statement here).
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 would allow Queensland's Coordinator-General to declare any major project a "State Strategic Project" and override regulatory pathways - including environmental regulations and community consultation.
We made a formal submission to the Committee, which outlined some major concerns relating to:
- North Queensland's disproportionate share of the Bill’s impact
- Risks to Great Barrier Reef catchments and environmental values
- Impacts on Traditional Owner rights and cultural heritage
- Reduced protections for rural landholders
- Centralisation of decision-making and reduced local input
- Failure to address cumulative impacts
- Loss of public confidence in environmental decision-making
- The undermining of Bioregional Planning as a mechanism for streamlining development
Throughout Queensland, hundreds of residents have spoken out against this Bill.
On Friday 7th August, the Primary Industries and Resources Committee handed down their report (here's the two-page executive summary). It acknowledged the deep and widespread concerns of Queenslanders, but nonetheless recommended that the Bill be passed with no amendments. This is a deeply disappointing decision, that demonstrates a complete disregard for the genuine concerns raised by Queenslanders from across a range of sectors.
What you can do
1. Contact your State MP and let them know your concerns about this Bill. We're asking them to oppose it entirely on behalf of the 90% of public submissions that opposed the Bill - or to adopt changes to address our main concerns (listed above).
Townsville
Adam Baillie
[email protected]
Ph: (07) 4766 4100
Mundingburra
Janelle Poole
[email protected]
(07) 4766 8100
Thuringowa
Natalie Marr
[email protected]
(07) 4766 3100
Hinchinbrook
Wayde Chiesa
[email protected]
(07) 4765 4700
2. Sign this petition by Lock the Gate Alliance
3. Share the petition or this blog post with a friend. Don't let this slide quietly by!
Thanks for taking action. We know that environmental regulations and communities who care are often the only things standing between corporations and nature - we can't afford to lose them!
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