Submissions
Mount Isa Region Economic Transformation Study
Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Mount Isa Region Economic Transformation Study. The study comes at a critical time for North West Queensland. The region is entering a period of significant economic transition following the cessation of underground copper mining in Mount Isa and ongoing uncertainty regarding the long-term future of strategic processing infrastructure in the region. At the same time, the North West Minerals Province (NWMP) presents one of Australia's most significant opportunities for future copper and critical minerals development and remains central to Queensland's future economic growth, export performance and contribution to global supply chains. QRC is pleased to attach its North West Minerals Province Strategy for consideration as part of this consultation process.
Download Submission (.pdf 1.03 MiB)
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Navigating biosecurity arrangements on agricultural land in areas of energy and resource development
QRC has provided feedback on Coexistence Queensland’s draft discussion paper, Navigating biosecurity arrangements on agricultural land in areas of energy and resource development.
The submission outlines the resources sector’s existing biosecurity, land access and environmental obligations and supports a practical, collaborative approach to strengthening understanding, implementation and confidence in Queensland’s biosecurity framework.
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Draft Bioregional Guidance Plans for the Gulf Plains and Brigalow Belt North
The QRC submission to the Queensland Government’s consultation on the Draft Bioregional Guidance Plans for the Gulf Plains and Brigalow Belt North provides industry feedback on the proposed regional planning framework and cumulative impact assessment approach. It supports strategic regional guidance to improve environmental outcomes and regulatory certainty, while highlighting the need for practical implementation, clear governance arrangements and a framework that supports informed project assessment and sustainable development.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Queensland Productivity Commission EPBC Act Inquiry
The QRC submission to the Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the impact of the Australian Government’s 2025 environment protection reforms provides industry feedback on the practical implications of the proposed EPBC reforms for Queensland’s resources sector. It supports strong environmental protection and science-based decision-making while highlighting the need to reduce duplication, improve regulatory coordination, strengthen investment certainty and ensure reforms deliver more efficient environmental approvals without compromising outcomes.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Exposure Draft National Environmental Standard (Data and Information) 2026
The QRC submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the proposed National Environmental Standard (Data and Information) 2026 provides industry feedback on the management, accessibility and use of environmental data under the EPBC Act reforms. It supports improved transparency, interoperability and regulatory certainty, while highlighting the need to recognise existing State and Commonwealth systems, avoid duplication, ensure proportionate requirements and provide greater clarity around implementation, existing datasets and commercially sensitive information.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme – Draft Design Framework
The QRC submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme draft design framework provides industry feedback on proposed measures to support domestic gas supply and place downward pressure on prices. It highlights the need for a framework that increases supply, maintains investment and export competitiveness, respects existing contracts and commercial arrangements, and ensures domestic contribution obligations are equitable, transparent and do not disproportionately impact Queensland producers and projects.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
A fresh start for Queensland’s Environmental Offsets Framework discussion paper
The QRC submission to the Queensland Government’s consultation on reforming the Environmental Offsets Framework provides industry feedback on proposals to modernise offset delivery, improve environmental outcomes, increase transparency and simplify the existing framework. It highlights the need for reforms to address practical implementation challenges while avoiding unintended impacts on offset availability, costs, approval timeframes, regulatory complexity and investment certainty.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Mineral Royalty: Provisional Price Adjustments (Draft Public Ruling MRA005.1)
The QRC submission to the Queensland Revenue Office's consultation on Draft Public Ruling MRA005.1 provides industry feedback on the proposed treatment of provisional price adjustments in mineral royalty calculations and associated royalty reporting requirements.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 Review
Statutory review of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (Qld), focusing on system performance, psychological injury trends, causation thresholds, fraud integrity, and participant responsibilities. The QRC highlights growing pressures from psychological injury claims, delays in decision-making, and variability in medical assessments, which contribute to prolonged claim durations and rising costs. It recommends standardising psychological injury assessment criteria, strengthening evidentiary standards, improving coordination across insurers, employers, and healthcare providers, and conducting a targeted evaluation of post-2019 amendments to assess their impact on claim patterns and scheme sustainability.
Exclusive Member-Only Content
Exposure Draft National Environmental Standard (Environmental Offsets) 2026
The QRC submission to the Australian Government’s consultation on the proposed National Environmental Standard (Environmental Offsets) 2026 provides industry feedback on the implementation of a nationally consistent environmental offsets framework under the EPBC Act reforms. It supports improved clarity, consistency and investment certainty, while highlighting the need to reduce duplication, address practical implementation challenges and ensure the framework delivers effective environmental outcomes through a proportionate and workable approvals system.
