Attorney-General Deb Frecklington ends two-year review mining objection review before publication

The Attorney-General has quietly axed a landmark review into how objections against new mines are dealt with just months before its public release.

Whitehaven Coal's Blackwater mine in Queensland's Bowen Basin.

A landmark review into how objections against new mines are dealt with has been quietly axed by the Attorney-General just months before its final report is due.

The Queensland Law Reform Commission was nearing the end of its two-year review into how contested applications for mining leases are decided.

It was due to report its findings before June 30, but the process was quietly axed by Attorney-General Deb Frecklington on March 4, when tropical cyclone Alfred sat off the Queensland coast.

In notifying the QLRC of her decision to axe its review, Ms Frecklington said four government ministers that make up the Resources Cabinet Committee would instead develop policies to improve the competitiveness of Queensland’s resources sector.

She said the committee’s consideration includes “bringing forward solutions that will reduce delays and improve approval time frames” for new mining leases.

Lock the Gate Alliance national co-ordinator Ellen Roberts said the Attorney-General’s decision was reminiscent of the Newman government’s 2014 decision to withdraw objection rights of people not directly affected by a mining application.

The landmark review has been quietly axed by Attorney-General Deb Frecklington. Picture: Supplied

“We’re shocked that the LNP Government has taken the unprecedented step of cancelling this review at the last moment to prevent the release of its findings,” she said.

“The Crisafulli Government must reassure the community that the cancelling of this review is not the first step to pulling a new Newman.

“It’s extremely unusual for a high level review of this kind to be cancelled right before the recommendations were due to be delivered … we can only conclude that the LNP government has intervened because the findings were not popular with the mining industry.”

Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer Janette Hewson supported Ms Frecklington’s decision and argued the review could lead to a duplication of regulation and delays in approvals of new resources projects.

She said the Resources Cabinet Committee would quicken project approvals and maintain environmental and regulatory standards.

“A streamlined approvals process is critical to Queensland remaining competitive so the resources sector can continue to create jobs and deliver economic benefits to all Queenslanders,” Ms Hewson said.

Queensland Law Reform Commission chair Fleur Kingham said she was “disappointed” in the decision, but acknowledged it was Ms Frecklington’s prerogative.

Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive officer Warren Pearce labelled it a “common sense” decision.

“This review was treading over old ground, and many of the issues already have dedicated actions underway,” he said.

Originally published as Attorney-General Deb Frecklington ends two-year review mining objection review before publication