Pictured: Representatives from nine Regional Conservation Councils attended the May 2025 Queensland Ministerial Environment Roundtable in Meanjin/Brisbane.

Coordinator Crystal Falknau represented NQCC at the first Environment Roundtables of 2025, including the first Ministerial Roundtable under the newly-elected Crisafulli Government. 

We received presentations and had some questions answered from senior staff from the Dept of Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation (DETSI) on a range of topics relevant to the statewide conservation sector. These are listed below and DETSI presentations are linked:

- Tourism Strategy Consultation Summary (presentation here and our Destination 2045 submission here)

- Great Barrier Reef 2025 Roadmap (presentation here and our Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan submission here)

- Queensland's Waste Strategy (presentation here)

- Indigenous Land and Sea Ranger Program and DETSI First Nations engagement (presentation here)

- Bioregional Planning (presentation here and our 2024 summary here)

- WildNet Modernisation (presentation here)

- Threatened Species (presentation here)(Koala strategy presentation here)

- Environmental Impact Statement Portal (presentation here)

- Protected Areas (presentation here)

Pictured: MERT attendees with Queensland Environment Minister Andrew Powell (centre)

Discussions with Queensland Minister for Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Hon Andrew Powell, covered three broad topics:

- Ecotourism and national parks,

- Environmental offsets and achieving better environmental outcomes, and

- Climate adaptation.

Ecotourism and National Parks

We heard that the Minister is committed to expanding, protecting and resourcing protected areas with management. He mentioned a preference for "biodiversity-aware development" and spoke of the importance of investing in the governance and capacity of First Nations groups and organisations.

We learned that the Queensland Tourism Strategy would be released as a final document only (no draft to be released prior), as this was a 100-day action item. However, we were assured that this would be "a living document" and that we would see what we shared during the consultation phase in the final Strategy.

Regional Tourism Officers will be responsible for developing regional development plans under the statewide strategy, and we are encouraged to engage in this process.

We heard that development and activities should have a "light enough touch" as to not damage the environment tourists are there to see. Another development like Port Hinchinbrook would not achieve that. The controversial Whitsunday Skyway was an election commitment and will be pushing ahead.

Information received regarding private tourism accommodation in national parks was ambiguous and contradictory, particularly with regards to accommodation plans for the Thorsborne Trail. We will continue to engage in this area to ensure profits for private tourism operators don't take precedence over nature conservation in our national parks.

Offsets and Bioregional Planning

"It's a win for everyone if we get it right." - Minister Powell

Climate Adaptation

Our budget request to launch QHeat2050 (a proposed program to measure and mitigate increasing heat hazards across the state) will not be met this budget, but we were encouraged to keep putting it forward and investigating alternative avenues.

All Regional Plans will be reviewed in this term of government, which will provide opportunities to contribute climate adaptation planning, including nature-based solutions.

Pictured: Crystal delivers Heat & Hazards policy briefs to Minister Powell and DETSI Director-General, Trish O'Callaghan

Defunding of the Queensland Environment Defenders Office

Just days before the Ministerial Roundtable, our colleagues at the Environment Defenders Office informed us that they had been notified their state government funding would not be continued - a broken promise made in 2024 by then-Shadow Environment Minister Sam O'Connor. When questioned, Minister Powell indicated that there was no ongoing funding allocated budget by the previous state government. He accepted that this was a broken promise but made no apology.

Conclusions from MERT

Queensland's conservation movement has established a respectful working relationship with this new Minister and government. Some tensions, disagreements and frustration can be expected on particular pain points, but there is also potential for some progress to be made in others, particularly if we maintain our high level of professionalism and evidence-backed approach to improving environmental policy.

Queensland Environment Roundtable

As usual, we rounded out the week with a Queensland Environment Roundtable, hosted by Queensland Conservation Council - no small feat for the team the week after a federal election!

This fantastic day facilitated connection, reflection, learning and celebration among MERT attendees and representatives from the broader conservation movement in Queensland. A particular highlight for me was a presentation of the colourful and fun anti-nuclear campaign run in marginal SEQ electorates - hazmat suits and "nuclear waste" barrels included!

We also shared ideas for organising in our respective communities over the next three years (with three elections due in 2028!) and building capacity in our organisations. 

Pictured: volunteers share highlights and learnings from their pre-election anti-nuclear antics.

As always, I am deeply grateful to the staff and volunteers at QCC and all leaders from the statewide conservation movement for such meaningful and crucial connection. I am always reminded that addressing the worsening climate and biodiversity crises requires plenty of hands and full hearts.