Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill strengthens protections for the Condamine Alluvium, a major underground water aquifer in southern Queensland that farmers rely on, from the impacts of new coal seam gas (CSG) drilling. It bans new CSG wells from contaminating the aquifer's water quality, expands landholders' rights to compensation when CSG drilling causes the ground to sink, and requires gas companies to get a landholder's agreement before drilling directional wells beneath their land. It also removes a duplicate approval step by moving CSG assessment into the existing environmental authority process.
Who it affects
Farmers and landholders over and near the Condamine Alluvium gain stronger water protections and clearer compensation rights, while coal seam gas companies face new conditions on the wells they drill in the area.
Key changes
- New CSG wells in the Condamine Alluvium area automatically carry a condition banning them from releasing contaminants that would breach the aquifer's water quality objectives.
- Gas companies must compensate landholders for agricultural losses caused by CSG-induced ground subsidence, both on the gas tenement and on land within 5 km outside it.
- Drilling a directional well under a property is now an 'advanced activity', so the gas company must reach a conduct and compensation agreement with the landholder first.
- The Land Court of Queensland can decide and review subsidence compensation disputes and can order non-monetary as well as monetary compensation.
- CSG in the area no longer needs a separate regional interests development approval, with assessment shifted to the environmental authority process.
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee25 Mar 2026View Hansard
Referred to Primary Industries and Resources Committee
6 members · Chair: Stephen Bennett
The Primary Industries and Resources Committee examined the bill, which makes targeted changes to planning, environmental and resources laws to balance new coal seam gas (CSG) development against protections for groundwater and landholders in the Condamine Alluvium area. After receiving 56 submissions and holding public hearings in Brisbane and Dalby, the committee recommended the bill be passed, but also recommended it be amended to keep the Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) process in the area rather than removing it as the bill proposed. Two minority statements were attached: a Statement of Reservation from the Labor Opposition members and a Dissenting Report from Robbie Katter (KAP), who opposed passage entirely.
Key findings (6)
- Most stakeholders supported the overall objectives of the bill but raised concerns about specific changes, particularly the proposed removal of the RIDA framework from the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee found the RIDA process is an important safeguard and negotiation tool for landholders even though it has been used infrequently, and recommended it be retained rather than removed.
- Stakeholders sought clearer guidance on how the new deemed water-quality condition under the Environmental Protection Act and the expanded CSG-induced subsidence compensation framework would work in practice.
- Submitters and the committee identified a need for better data on CSG-induced subsidence and stronger communication with landholders about the new safeguards and dispute resolution options.
- The committee assessed the bill as having sufficient regard for fundamental legislative principles and concluded any limits on human rights were proportionate and justified.
- The committee recommended a post-implementation review 36 months after commencement to test whether the water-quality and subsidence-compensation measures are working.
Recommendations (7)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
- The committee recommends that the Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations amend the Bill to retain the regional interests development approval process within the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee recommends that the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation develop practical guidance materials, including examples and compliance scenarios, to assist stakeholders, including resource authority holders, in understanding how the proposed amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1994 will apply in practice.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government consider allocating additional resources to the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment to facilitate the generation of more granular data about CSG-induced subsidence in the Condamine Alluvium CSG area.
- The committee recommends that the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development develop practical guidance materials on the proposed changes to the Mineral and Energy Resources (Common Provisions) Act 2014. This should include guidance on evidentiary matters and baseline measurement and monitoring, to assist stakeholders in understanding what is required to establish an evidence base.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government consider expanding communication with landholders to improve awareness, access to information and support relating to the new regulatory framework. This should include communication about the safeguard mechanisms for groundwater extraction, protections against gas migration, and the independent dispute resolution mechanisms available.
- The committee recommends that the Queensland Government commence a post-implementation review of the changes contained in the Bill 36 months after its commencement. This review should include the effectiveness of the deemed condition in protecting water quality and the operation of the CSG-induced subsidence compensation framework.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading24 June 2026View Hansard
That the bill be now read a second time
Vote to agree to the bill's principles and advance it to the consideration in detail stage; carried 52-35 with the LNP and independent member Bolton in favour and Labor opposed.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (52)
Noes (35)
That the amendment be agreed to
Vote on an amendment to a separate procedural motion considered during the sitting (not a stage of this bill); carried on government numbers.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (37)
That the motion, as amended, be agreed to
Vote agreeing to that separate procedural motion, as amended; carried on government numbers.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (37)
▸23 members spoke11 support7 oppose5 mixed
As Deputy Leader of the Opposition and shadow minister, condemned the bill and its last-minute amendments as a broken election promise and a failure of consultation, and attacked the unrelated South Bank Corporation amendments as an abuse of the legislative process.
“The tabling of these amendments today is not a triumph of the parliamentary process; it is a complete and utter humiliation of the Deputy Premier and the LNP Crisafulli government.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as delivering strong protections for the Condamine Alluvium and landholders, including the deemed water-quality condition, CSG-induced subsidence compensation and off-tenure liability, framing it as getting the balance right between agriculture and resources.
“This bill delivers on an important commitment of the Crisafulli government to protect the Condamine Alluvium, strengthen property rights and ensure the long-term coexistence of agriculture and resource development in one of Queensland's most productive regions.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Argued the bill broke the LNP's election commitment by removing the RIDA process and was developed with inadequate consultation, and challenged government committee members to move a further amendment mandating a full RIDA for every new drilling project.
“So we have gone from a complete commitment that every new project will undergo a RIDA to the Deputy Premier creating a piece of legislation that removes that very election commitment!”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As committee chair, supported the bill and the amendments retaining the RIDA process, highlighting the committee's recommendation to keep RIDA as an important front-end safeguard and the new subsidence compensation protections.
“the committee also recommended that the bill be amended to retain the regional interests development approval process within the Condamine Alluvium area.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Described the bill as an own goal and a betrayal of farmers that did the opposite of the LNP's own election commitment, criticising the rushed, guillotined process and last-minute amendments that breached standing orders.
“This bill represents a clear and deliberate breach of faith with the people of the Condamine region.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As a committee member, supported the bill for strengthening aquifer protection, expanding subsidence compensation including off-tenure liability, and welcomed the government's decision to retain the RIDA process.
“This bill is about protecting vital water resources. It is about standing up for landholders. It is about providing certainty for regional communities and it is about delivering on commitments made to Queenslanders.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the deemed Environmental Protection Act condition and clarified subsidence compensation but opposed the bill's removal of the RIDA and its inadequate consultation, accusing the government of betraying farmers.
“Labor does support the addition of a deeming condition to the Environmental Protection Act and a clarified avenue for compensation for landholders affected by subsidence. However, these do not replace the protection that RIDA offers.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
A farmer himself, supported the bill for strengthening aquifer protection, property rights and compensation, and praised the committee process for listening to stakeholders and retaining the RIDA framework.
“This bill seeks to strengthen those protections by requiring gas companies to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that new projects will not have a detrimental impact on the Condamine Alluvium aquifer.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As opposition resources spokesman, condemned the bill as breaking the LNP's promise and hurting both farmers and gas companies, and criticised the rushed amendments that breached the parliament's same question rule.
“when a bad government putting forward a bad bill tries to upset this delicate balance, it will hurt both parties—not just the farmers but those investing in our resources as well.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
The local member (and Speaker) supported the bill and thanked the Deputy Premier for amending it to retain the RIDA provisions, welcoming the new CSG-induced subsidence compensation framework and the treatment of directional drilling as an advanced activity.
“At the conclusion of the committee hearings it was clear to me that the RIDA provisions needed to remain in legislation.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the deemed condition and clarified compensation but said they do not replace the RIDA, condemning the broken election promise, the exclusion of stakeholders from consultation and the ramming through of late amendments.
“Labor supports the addition of a deemed condition to the Environmental Protection Act and a clarified avenue for compensation for landholders affected by subsidence, but these do not replace the protection the RIDA offers.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As Environment Minister, supported the bill, emphasising the new deemed Environmental Protection Act condition prohibiting contaminant release into the aquifer, along with guidance material, OGIA support and a post-implementation review.
“This bill reinforces and enhances environmental water quality safeguards. It also delivers on the Crisafulli government's commitment to prevent long-term detrimental impacts on the water quality of the Condamine Alluvium.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the deemed condition and clarified compensation but opposed the removal of the RIDA and the rushed, unconsulted amendments, including the unrelated South Bank Corporation changes.
“We support the inclusion of the deemed condition to the Environmental Protection Act and a clarified avenue for compensation for landholders affected by subsidence, but alone these do not address the removal of the protections that the RIDA offers.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
A self-described property rights purist, supported the bill particularly for recognising CSG-induced subsidence as a compensable effect, introducing off-tenure compensation and treating deviated wells as advanced activities.
“This is good legislation and it protects property rights.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
While commending the government for retaining the RIDA, argued the bill starts from and returns to a low baseline that fails to redress the power imbalance between gas companies and farmers, leaving landholders to bear the onus and cost of proving subsidence damage.
“I think it started from a very low baseline in terms of protecting farmers and we have returned to that low baseline. We are still falling well short of what we should be doing to try to repair the power imbalance in the negotiations between the gas companies and the farmers.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As the local Warrego member and Minister for Water, supported the bill as delivering the election commitment to protect the Condamine Alluvium, strengthening property rights and compensation, and confirmed the RIDA would be retained in response to constituent feedback.
“This bill delivers more than the LNP's key election commitment. That commitment was to protect the Condamine Alluvium, following the decade of decline under Labor.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Condemned the bill as a broken promise introduced without consultation that farmers immediately rejected, and criticised the eleventh-hour amendments and the unrelated South Bank Corporation changes as impossible to scrutinise.
“This bill represents a broken promise to the farmers on the Western Downs.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
As Minister for Primary Industries, supported the bill for protecting the aquifer, expanding subsidence compensation and recognising deviated drilling as an advanced activity, and said the foreshadowed amendments respond to the committee's statement of reservation.
“Under this bill, gas companies will be required to demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt that new projects will not have a detrimental impact on the Condamine Alluvium.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported stronger aquifer protections and clearer compensation but argued they do not replace the RIDA, condemning the closed-door consultation, the guillotined debate and the unrelated South Bank Corporation amendments.
“You can support stronger environmental protections and you can support improved compensation rights and at the same time recognise that neither replaces the role of the RIDA as an important planning and negotiation framework.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as landmark protection for landholders facing subsidence and directional drilling, praising the five-kilometre off-tenure liability and the government's decision to retain the RIDA after community feedback.
“This bill introduces unparalleled, landmark protections for landowners facing the impacts of ground subsidence and directional drilling.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Condemned the bill as a broken promise on the RIDA that landholders had to fight to reverse, and criticised the last-minute amendments and the unrelated South Bank Corporation power to remove board members for any reason or none.
“This bill represents a broken promise. Landholders have been forced to fight to preserve protections that should have never been threatened, exposing a government that has stopped listening to Queenslanders.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Supported the bill as balancing agriculture and the gas industry through the deemed water-quality condition, clearer subsidence compensation and the retention of the RIDA process.
“This debate is about balance, it is about trust, it is about fairness and it is about coexistence.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
Acknowledged the deemed condition, subsidence compensation and RIDA retention as sensible but criticised the bill as a half-hearted measure confined to the Condamine Alluvium, with weak monitoring and enforcement and no protection for the rest of the Surat and Bowen basins.
“These are sensible changes, but all of this is just an attempt to put lipstick on a pig.”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
▸In Detail24 June 2026View Hansard
Amends clause 3 to replace the reference to new section 11A of the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 with new section 5A(2), so the definition of the Condamine Alluvium CSG area in the Environmental Protection Act 1994 aligns with the corresponding definition in the RPI Act.
A group of government amendments (Nos 2 to 18) that: omit the provisions removing the RIDA process and retain the regional interests development approval framework for CSG activity in the Condamine Alluvium CSG area (inserting a replacement section 5A defining the mapped area by regulation); provide that the new deemed environmental-authority water-quality condition prevails over any inconsistent RIDA condition; confine CSG-induced subsidence compensation liability to CSG resource authorities wholly or partly within the Condamine Alluvium CSG area and clarify off-tenure (within the prescribed distance) compensation eligibility; and amend the South Bank Corporation Act 1989 to allow the Governor in Council to remove board members, deputies of members and the corporation manager at any time for any reason or none.
That the Deputy Premier’s amendments Nos 2 to 18, as circulated, be
Vote agreeing to the government's amendments that retain the RIDA process, confine and clarify CSG-induced subsidence compensation liability, and amend the South Bank Corporation Act 1989.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (35)
Amends the long title of the bill to insert a reference to the South Bank Corporation Act 1989, reflecting the new part amending that Act added by amendment No. 18.
That the Deputy Premier’s amendment No. 19 be agreed to
Vote agreeing to the amendment inserting a reference to the South Bank Corporation Act 1989 into the bill's long title.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
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That the long title of the bill, as amended, be agreed to
Vote agreeing to the amended long title of the bill, which now references the South Bank Corporation Act 1989.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (35)
▸1 clause vote (all passed)
That clauses 4 to 18 and schedule 1, as amended, stand part of the bill
Vote to keep clauses 4 to 18 and schedule 1, as amended by the government's amendments, as part of the bill.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (35)
▸1 procedural vote
Vote to grant leave
Procedural vote granting leave for the government's amendments Nos 2 and 18 — which fall outside the bill's long title, including the South Bank Corporation Act changes — to be moved.
Permission was granted.
A vote on whether to grant permission — for example, to introduce an amendment or vary normal procedure.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (36)
Moved the government's amendments during consideration in detail, including amendment No. 1 aligning the definition of the Condamine Alluvium CSG area across the Environmental Protection Act and the RPI Act, defending them as essential to avoid unintended consequences.
“If I do not align the provisions of this legislation with the environmental protection legislation, it will have dire unintended consequences for the agriculture sector”— 2026-06-24View Hansard
▸Third Reading24 June 2026View Hansard
That the bill, as amended, be now read a third time
Final vote passing the bill, as amended; carried 51-35 on government numbers with Labor opposed.
The motion passed.
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Ayes (51)
Noes (35)
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