Submission to the Primary Industries and Resources Committee on the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
We are deeply concerned by the introduction of the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (Bill), which proposes major changes to how resource and infrastructure projects could be assessed and approved in Queensland. Despite the name of the Bill, the proposed changes could apply to any type of significant-scale development, not just critical minerals.
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Bill. Due to the limited consultation timeframe, this submission focusses on the proposed amendments we consider to be of most concern.
Key takeaways
Our submission is in two parts. Part 1 outlines our overarching concerns with the proposed amendments to the SDPWO Act and addresses the following issues posed by the Bill:
- an inappropriate delegation of legislative power;
- the abject failure to justify the need for the Bill;
- the failure to adequately consult on the Bill;
- an unreasonable concentration of power with the Minister and Coordinator-General without adequate safeguards;
- the undermining of public participation rights;
- the erosion of landholder rights;
- the unreasonable limitation of human rights, including the protection against arbitrary deprivation of property, and adverse impacts on First Nations; and
- the nullification of recent amendments to protect areas of regional importance introduced under the Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) Amendment Act 2026 (Qld).
Part 2 of our submission contains detailed feedback on the Bill and our recommended amendments in the event the Government continue to pursue amendments to the SDPWO Act, and addresses:
- State strategic projects, including:
- declaring a State strategic project;
- modification orders’
- State significance notices;
- powers to take private land for State strategic projects;
- powers to carry out substantial enabling works on private land;
- SDA-related development;
- Infrastructure Coordination Plans;
- integration with the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (Qld) (RPI Act);
- impacts to human rights; and
- adverse impacts on the rights and interests of First Nations.
Key actions
The Bill should be withdrawn and not reintroduced unless there is a demonstrated need, and appropriate consultation has occurred. However, if the Government continues to pursue amendments to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld) (SDPWO Act), it should undertake adequate consultation on any draft amended Bill.
