Submissions

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Review of Queensland's human rights and anti-discrimination framework. QRC is the peak representative body for Queensland’s resources sector. QRC’s membership encompasses explorers, miners, petroleum and gas producers, mineral processors, contractors, suppliers and associated service providers. QRC members include businesses of different sizes, operating models, ownership structures, commodities and stages of development. QRC supports the objective of a human rights and anti-discrimination framework that provides strong protections against discrimination and unlawful conduct, supports prevention and fair resolution of complaints and clearly defines statutory rights, duties and the Queensland Human Rights Commission's (QHRC) functions.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft Code of Conduct for Renewable Energy Developers (draft Code) and the accompanying Draft Industry Guidance on the Code of Conduct (draft Industry Guidance). QRC supports clear and practical expectations for community and stakeholder engagement by renewable energy developers. QRC also welcomes the consultation documents’ acknowledgement that renewable energy developments may interact with resource authority areas. The draft Code defines a “resource authority area” and refers to co-development facilitation convened by Coexistence Queensland, while the draft Industry Guidance refers to engagement with resource authority holders and potential resources industry representation in community engagement processes.

QRC supports the overall direction of the Draft SPP and welcomes the continued recognition of mining and extractive resources as a State interest. In particular, the Draft SPP requires planning and development outcomes to identify and consider mineral, coal, petroleum and gas resources, including resource authorities for production or development, together with key associated supply-chain infrastructure. It also prioritises mutually beneficial coexistence with compatible land uses where resource extraction is not compromised. While supporting this approach, QRC considers the final SPP should provide a clear and appropriately proportionate basis for protecting mineral, coal, petroleum and gas resources from development that would materially compromise their current or future recovery.

The Queensland Government has released the final report of the 2026 review of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and its response to the recommendations. The review makes 104 recommendations in total of which 42 relate to workers’ compensation. The Government has accepted 39 of the workers compensation recommendations, accepted two in principle and noted one.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Environment Protection Reform Consultation: Shaping the Next Phase of Environmental Reforms. QRC acknowledges the significant work undertaken by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to progress reforms to Australia’s national environmental laws and develop the supporting regulatory framework.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the Mineral Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (the Bill) as a substantial and positive response to the central procedural, standing and duplication concerns.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback to the Department of Environment Tourism Science and Innovation on the following draft environmentally relevant activity standards: • Eligibility Criteria and Standard Conditions for Mining Lease Activities; and • Eligibility Criteria and Standard Conditions for Exploration and Mineral Development Licence Activities.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft Guidance Note: Queensland Ammonium Nitrate Supply Chain Safety and Integrity, developed jointly by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) and Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) (attached). The safe and effective management of Queensland’s ammonium nitrate supply chain is a priority for QRC and its members. QRC supports clear, practical, risk-based guidance across manufacture, supply, transport, storage and use. The guidance should focus on credible major-incident scenarios, the consequences of fires involving ammonium nitrate and the prevention of escalation through effective controls relating to contamination, heat and ignition sources, confinement, vehicle condition, separation, emergency response and inventory management.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Queensland Government's 2026 review of the Financial Provisioning Scheme (FPS, the ‘Scheme’), which was established in April 2019 through the Mineral and Energy Resources (Financial Provisioning) Act 2018 (MERFP Act). QRC supports the objective of ensuring the State is appropriately protected from the financial risks associated with resource operators failing to meet their environmental and rehabilitation obligations.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft legislative package establishing the Domestic Gas Reservation Scheme (DGRS). QRC supports the objective of reliable and affordable domestic gas supply, provided the framework also maintains Australia’s investment attractiveness, export competitiveness and reputation as a reliable trading partner