Next step taken in overhaul of land access laws

Published Friday, 08 February, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Andrew Cripps

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps today announced the committee that will oversee the implementation of the Newman Governments Six-Point Action Plan to reform Queensland’s land access laws.

Mr Cripps said the independent 7-member panel, to be chaired by Dr David Watson, will meet for the first time next week, providing a forum for peak resource and rural industry bodies to collectively resolve outstanding issues relating to resource sector development on private land.

“The Six-Point Action Plan is the government’s response to the recommendations of the 2011 Independent Review of the Land Access Framework to be applied to access and compensation agreements between landholders and resource companies,” Mr Cripps said.

“I am confident Dr Watson’s experience in leading that original review will ensure this process strengthens the relationship between two of the Queensland economy’s most important sectors - resources and agriculture.

“We have asked the Implementation Committee to advise on the following important changes to bring equity and certainty to land access and compensation arrangements for both land owners and resource companies.”

  1. (a) a review of the heads of compensation to ensure no cost or erosion of landholder rights (b) the expansion of Land Court jurisdiction to include matters of conduct
  1. The introduction of  an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, independent of government, to be integrated into the Land Court
  1. The existence of a Conduct and Compensation Agreement (CCA) to be noted on land title
  1. An option for parties to “opt out” of a formal land access agreement at the election of the landholder
  1. The development of standard CCAs for mineral, coal and coal seam gas industries in partnership with the resource and agricultural sectors
  1. A review and rationalisation of information sources into a single resource for landholders and resource companies.

Other members of the Land Access Implementation Committee are:

Wayne Newton, President, AgForce Grain Ltd; John Cotter, chair, Queensland Gasfields Commission; Dan Galligan, CEO, Queensland Farmers’ Federation; Matt Paul, Queensland Director, Australian Petroleum Producers’ and Explorers’ Association; Bernie
Hogan, Regional Manager, Queensland, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies; and Andrew Barger, Policy Director, Queensland Resources Council.

[ENDS] 8 February 2013

Media contact: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0428 868 237