Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

Supported the bill as delivering a single integrated one-stop-shop tourism permit system that removes duplication and frees tourism operators while maintaining environmental safeguards.

“This bill introduces a single, integrated one-stop shop permit system. It removes duplication, aligns expiry dates and simplifies the processes.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As Minister for the Environment, moved the second reading, presenting the omnibus bill as practical, risk-based reform that cuts red tape across multiple Acts while maintaining strong environmental safeguards and delivering on the Destination 2045 tourism commitment.

“At its core, this bill is about practical, commonsense environmental reform—reform that delivers certainty, reform that delivers accountability, reform that reduces unnecessary duplication and delay, and reform that delivers better outcomes for Queensland's natural environment.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it chips away at community participation rights and regulatory oversight, removes environmental authorities for code-managed activities, abolishes small-scale mining sureties and weakens rehabilitation safeguards.

“The bill makes a suite of changes that chip away at community participation rights and regulatory power as well as handing over greater power to corporations to self-regulate.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As shadow environment minister, welcomed red-tape reduction and some elements such as conservation officer powers and landholder water rights, but argued the bill fails to enhance environmental protection, shifts risk onto the environment and communities through code-managed ERAs, removes public notification of EIS terms of reference, and removes the public interest evaluation for mine rehabilitation.

“The bill does not find the balance. It arguably shifts risk away from proponents and onto the environment and affected communities.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as unlocking environmental opportunity in natural areas, arguing that economic and environmental dividends go hand in hand and that the reforms enable responsible visitation and volunteering.

“I want to thank the minister for crafting a series of reforms in this omnibus bill that will unlock environmental opportunity in our natural areas.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As chair of the Health, Environment and Innovation Committee, spoke in support, describing the bill as practical, commonsense reform that adopts a risk-based approach to ERAs, improves mine rehabilitation and introduces a single integrated tourism permission while maintaining safeguards.

“I rise to speak in support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill. I commend the minister on the excellent job that he and his team have done in seeking to speed up environmental approvals for meaningful business enterprises and opportunities in Queensland.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Acknowledged the bill's stated efficiency aims but criticised it as weakening oversight, removing surety for small-scale mining, removing independent public interest evaluations and replacing mandatory audits with discretionary ones, arguing it does not strike the right balance.

“When we examine the detail and move beyond the language of 'efficiency' and 'streamlining', we find a series of changes that weaken oversight, reduce independent scrutiny and narrow opportunities for public participation.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Criticised the bill for a lack of detail and for reducing assessment of environmental impacts and community input, arguing self-assessment often means no assessment, while noting Labor supports ecotourism and acknowledging concerns raised by both AgForce and the EDO.

“Overall, this bill reduces the assessment of environmental impacts and reduces opportunities for community input. This is very concerning to the Labor members of this chamber.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as cutting red tape and modernising environmental laws by simplifying approvals for low-risk activities while maintaining strong environmental standards.

“The bill will cut red tape and modernise our environmental laws, especially by simplifying approvals for low-risk activities, while updating how environmental impacts are regulated.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As a committee member, spoke in strong support, describing the bill as smarter not weaker regulation that reduces duplication and focuses resources on genuine environmental risks, with the ERA code, mine rehabilitation, enforcement and single integrated tourism permission reforms benefiting communities such as Redcliffe.

“I rise in strong support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025... It is about smarter regulation, not weaker regulation.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Stated she could not support the bill in its current form, citing poorly defined 'low risk' criteria, the lack of a public register for ERA codes, removal of consultation on EIS terms of reference, and concerns over single integrated tourism permits and extended underground water reporting periods.

“Even though I support greater efficiencies, as I have spoken about many times in relation to our parliamentary processes, I cannot support the bill in its current form.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As a committee member, raised stakeholder concerns about code-managed ERAs lacking a public register, removal of small-scale mining sureties, overtourism risks from single permits, and the UWIR extension, urging the department to retain a three-year underground water reporting cycle and address contaminated bores.

“I would encourage the minister and the department to listen to the concerns of stakeholders with respect to the proposals outlined in this bill to ensure that our environment continues to be protected with respect to the competing demands of mining and tourism activities.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering a strong, practical and fit-for-purpose framework that reduces duplication, strengthens enforcement against repeat offenders and introduces a single integrated tourism permission while maintaining environmental safeguards.

“I rise today to speak in support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. This bill is about delivering an environmental framework that is strong, practical and fit for purpose.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Spoke in support, walking through the bill's technical reforms to ERAs, significant environmental values, mine rehabilitation, underground water management and the single integrated tourism permit, framing them as a contemporary framework that protects the environment including K'gari and the Great Sandy Marine Park.

“The objective of this bill is to improve efficiency and streamline the regulatory framework for the conservation and protection of our environment.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Said Labor supports streamlining but argued this bill tips the balance the wrong way, criticising the undefined 'low risk' threshold, proponent self-assessment of ERA code eligibility and the government's broader ecotourism branding as risking greenwashing.

“The Queensland Labor opposition will always support action to streamline and improve the efficiency of our state's development as long as it does not come at the expense of protecting our incredible environment.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Raised concerns on behalf of the Bundamba community about the application of code-managed ERAs to waste operators in Swanbank, the lack of clarity over what is 'low-risk', the transition of around a third of existing EAs to code management, and reduced regulatory oversight and public consultation.

“Despite this bill being over 200 pages long, it frankly raises more questions than answers for the conservation sector, the environmental sector and industry alike.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as practical environmental reform that reduces red tape and duplication for regional industries while maintaining strong safeguards, welcoming the risk-based ERA approach, underground water reforms and stronger enforcement.

“I rise to speak in support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. This bill is about delivering practical environmental reform for Queensland.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Spoke in support, arguing high environmental standards need not mean slow processes or lawfare, and that the bill's streamlining of tourism permissions under Destination 2045 will restore investor confidence in regions like the Redlands without lowering protection standards.

“This bill delivers on the Crisafulli LNP government's commitment as part of the Destination 2045 plan to streamline approvals, reduce duplication, reduce red tape and make it easier for tourism operators to do business here in Queensland.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Acknowledged elements aimed at improving administrative efficiency but raised significant concerns that the bill reduces oversight, removes public notification of EIS terms of reference and public interest evaluations, and expands ministerial discretion through delegated legislation.

“The concern with this bill is that in too many areas the Crisafulli government appears more focused on reducing oversight than on maintaining confidence in the system.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported streamlining in principle but argued efficiency stripped of accountability risks poorer outcomes, raising concerns about self-assessed code-managed ERAs affecting waste facilities in Swanbank and New Chum, and opposing removal of public notification of EIS terms of reference which she said excludes regional and First Nations communities.

“The Queensland Labor opposition will always support actions to streamline and improve the efficiency of our state's development, so long as said efficiency does not come at the expense of protecting our incredible environment.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as practical, outcomes-focused reform that modernises environmental regulation, reduces duplication and delivers a single integrated tourism permission while maintaining strong safeguards.

“That is why I rise today to support the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As Assistant Minister for Tourism, spoke in support, emphasising the single integrated tourism permit and risk-based approach as crucial for Far North Queensland's tourism, agriculture and regional development, citing operators delayed by duplicative permit processes while stressing higher-risk activities remain subject to scrutiny.

“The Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 delivers on that expectation... Importantly, this bill is not about weakening environmental protections.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Stated the opposition will not oppose the bill because it contains administrative improvements, but heavily criticised the undefined 'low risk' code framework, proponent self-assessment and removal of public consultation on EIS terms of reference.

“The Queensland Labor opposition will not oppose this bill. We do not oppose it because there are elements within it that seek to improve administrative processes, streamline approvals and modernise aspects of Queensland's environmental regulatory framework.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported efficiency in principle but raised concerns that the bill weakens oversight of environmentally relevant activities, particularly waste operators in Ipswich, through self-assessed code-managed ERAs, and opposed removal of public notification of EIS terms of reference and the public interest test for non-use management areas in mine closure plans.

“While the Labor opposition supports improvements in efficiency and streamlining in relation to development of this state, this should not come at the cost of protecting our environment and our communities.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as delivering modern, practical and commonsense reforms that simplify processes while improving environmental outcomes, including the risk-based ERA approach and underground water management changes.

“This bill simplifies processes while improving outcomes for the environment. Importantly, it delivers modern, practical and commonsense reforms which are good for Queensland and Queenslanders. I support the bill.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Spoke in support, framing the bill as striking the right balance between protection and access through a single integrated tourism permit system that does not lower environmental standards, highlighting ecotourism opportunities in the Redlands under Destination 2045. Speech was interrupted when the debate was adjourned.

“I rise to support the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill—legislation that strikes the right balance between protecting what we value and enabling responsible access to it.”— 2026-05-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as modernising the Environmental Protection Act with a targeted, risk-based approach, supporting the transition of small-scale mining to ERA codes, the single integrated tourism permission and mine rehabilitation reforms.

“This bill modernises the Environmental Protection Act with a more targeted risk-based approach that reduces duplication and focuses regulation where it matters most.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as modernising Queensland's environmental regulatory framework, removing duplication, strengthening compliance and improving rehabilitation while maintaining strong safeguards.

“I wish to place on record my support for this legislation and commend the Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation for bringing this important reform to the Queensland parliament.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, commending the minister's balanced and practical approach to reforming environmentally relevant activities, mine rehabilitation, underground water management and ecotourism permitting.

“Again, I compliment the minister on the balanced approach that he has taken with this bill.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as a commonsense approach that streamlines approvals, improves mine rehabilitation and closure planning, strengthens enforcement and introduces single integrated tourism permissions while maintaining strong standards.

“I rise today to support the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as striking the right balance between maintaining strong environmental protections and ensuring a practical, modern and efficient regulatory system, welcoming the risk-based ERA approach and clarity around significant environmental values.

“This bill is about striking the right balance. It is about maintaining strong environmental protections for Queensland while also ensuring our regulatory system is practical, modern, efficient and easier to navigate.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as sensible, stable reform that benefits small-scale opal and gem miners and ecotourism operators in regional and western Queensland through one-permit tourism and reduced red tape for low-impact mining.

“It is sensible, stable reform delivered by a government that is pragmatic in its approach to stakeholder concerns—mindful of its environmental stewardship but also very keen to unlock opportunities for small business operators.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, focusing on improvements to small-scale mining financial surety (with refunds to opal and gem miners) and the streamlining of underground water management including extended UWIR timeframes and bore assessment processes.

“I commend the bill to the House. I thank the minister for bringing forward these streamlining amendments in the bill, ensuring that they are well set up to serve landholders and also tenure holders into the future.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill, focusing on the resources sector and small-scale miners, arguing the new ERA code framework removes duplication while maintaining environmental obligations and strengthening enforcement against offenders.

“I rise to speak in support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

Supported the bill as modernising Queensland's environmental framework by removing duplication, providing certainty, strengthening enforcement and extending investigation timeframes while maintaining strong safeguards.

“I rise to speak in support of the Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard

As Minister for the Environment, summed up in reply defending the bill, asserting ERA codes will not reduce environmental safeguards or scrutiny, that high-risk activities will not be transitioned, and that public consultation processes for EIS and ERA codes are retained.

“These reductions in regulatory burden and gains in administrative efficiency are not at the cost of environmental outcomes as strong safeguards will be maintained.”— 2026-06-02View Hansard