Review of Queensland’s coexistence institutions

A key focus area of the QRIDP relates to fostering coexistence and sustainable communities. Under this key focus area, government committed to a review of the land access institutions to ensure they are well aligned, contemporary and efficient. In particular, the review was to investigate the scope and functions of the Land Access Ombudsman (LAO), GasFields Commission Queensland and the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA), including if:

• their functions could be expanded to assist in more circumstances
• these entities could perform their functions in a single entity.

Update on changes to legislation

On 18 June 2024, the Mineral and Energy Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (the MEROLA Act) was given royal assent.

The Amendment Act was developed following consultation, and aims to promote sustainable coexistence between resources, agriculture and renewable energy industries. You can read more about the consultation below.

Outcomes delivered in the Amendment Act will:

• strengthen the coexistence framework between Queensland resources, renewable energy and agriculture industries
• implement a framework to assess and manage the impacts of coal seam gas-induced subsidence on agricultural land
• expand the role of the state’s coexistence institutions.

Expanded roles of coexistence institutions

Amendments to rebrand the GasFields Commission Queensland as Coexistence Queensland started on 18 June 2024. Coexistence Queensland will provide information, engagement and education services to the community and industry on land access and coexistence issues across the resources and renewable energy sectors.

The Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment's role also expanded on 18 June 2024, and they are now able to provide independent scientific advice in relation to subsurface impacts from petroleum and gas activities if requested by a government entity.

The Land Access Ombudsman will provide support to stakeholders on a broader range of land access disputes through an alternative dispute resolution pathway. The expanded role will commence via proclamation.

Consultation to date

Department of Resources consultation

Following extensive consultation during the development of QRIDP, the Department of Resources released a discussion paper, Land access and coexistence: A review of coexistence principles and coexistence institutions (PDF, 1,017 KB) between 18 November 2022 and 24 February 2023.

The key learning from consultation on the coexistence discussion paper was that the number of institutions operating in the coexistence sphere is appropriate and that greater rationalisation of institutions was not desirable. However, it was evident that there was an opportunity to clarify the roles and responsibilities of each institution and address any gaps or duplication of functions.

From 27 September until 8 December 2023, the Department of Resources released a consultation paper, Coexistence institutions and subsidence management framework (PDF, 1 MB).

The proposed changes in this paper captured feedback from earlier consultation and represented the next phase of government action in response to coexistence challenges to foster mutually beneficial and enduring relationships into the future.

Feedback from these consultations informed the development of the Amendment Act.

More information

• Read the MEROLA Amendment Act for a comprehensive outline of the legislative amendments.
• Read the Clean Economy Jobs, Resources and Transport Committee's report on the MEROLA Bill, tabled on 7 June 2024.
• Read an explanation about the MEROLA Act.
• Have your say on the proposed subsidence management framework. Consultation will close on 23 September 2024.