Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill overhauls Queensland's environmental regulation across multiple domains. It introduces ERA codes as a simpler way to regulate lower-risk environmental activities, creates a single tourism permission for operators working across parks and forests, strengthens enforcement powers for environmental and koala habitat offences, and improves protections for bore owners affected by resource operations.
Who it affects
Mining and resource operators face new reporting rules but gain regulatory relief through ERA codes and streamlined processes. Tourism operators benefit from a single permit system. Bore owners near resource operations gain stronger protections and the right to request bore assessments.
Environmental regulation reform
Creates ERA codes as a lighter-touch alternative to environmental authorities for lower-risk activities. Operators can comply with standardised conditions instead of holding individual permits. Small scale miners transition out of the surety system, with over 3,000 sureties to be refunded.
- Lower-risk environmentally relevant activities can be regulated by ERA codes instead of individual environmental authorities
- Small scale miners no longer need financial surety payments — existing sureties will be refunded
- Existing operators get 12 months to transition to ERA codes or opt to keep their environmental authority
- Significant environmental values will be formally declared to guide regulatory priorities
Environmental assessment streamlining
Reduces duplication in environmental impact assessments by recognising assessments done under the SDPWO Act and removing the requirement to publicly notify draft terms of reference. The public interest evaluation process for mine rehabilitation plans is abolished.
- Draft terms of reference for environmental impact statements no longer need public notification
- Impact assessment reports under the SDPWO Act are recognised to avoid duplicating EA application requirements
- Public interest evaluation process for progressive rehabilitation and closure plans is removed
- PRCP audits change from mandatory every 3 years to risk-based at the regulator's discretion
Enforcement and compliance
Strengthens the government's ability to prosecute environmental offences and seize property used in offending. Time limits for prosecution are extended, and courts gain new forfeiture powers.
- Time limit for commencing summary proceedings extended from 1 year to 2 years (3 years for serious offences)
- Courts can order forfeiture of property used to commit environmental offences
- New offences for interfering with seized things or restricted access areas (max 165 penalty units)
- Improved procedures for handling and returning seized property
Tourism permitting
Creates a single integrated permission for tourism operators working across protected areas, State forests, recreation areas and State marine parks. This replaces the current system requiring separate permits under different Acts, implementing the Destination 2045 tourism plan.
- Tourism operators can get one permit covering protected areas, State forests, recreation areas and marine parks
- Commercial activity permits for recreation areas extended from 3 to 5 years
- All commercial activity permits in recreation areas are now transferable
- Commercial activity agreements formalised in legislation with a maximum 15-year term
Koala habitat and nature conservation
Gives conservation officers new investigation and enforcement powers for Planning Act offences related to koala habitat and other Nature Conservation Act matters.
- Conservation officers can investigate, monitor and enforce koala habitat protections under the Planning Act
- Officers gain powers to enter places, stop vehicles, and seize evidence related to habitat offences
- Definition of 'protected area' clarified in the Nature Conservation Act
Underground water protections
Reforms groundwater impact reporting and strengthens bore owner protections. Reporting cycles extend from 3 to 5 years with new baseline assessment strategies, while bore owners gain the right to request bore assessments and tenure holders must report annually on make-good measures.
- Underground water impact reports now due every 5 years instead of 3
- Bore owners can apply to have a bore assessment directed for their water bore
- Resource tenure holders must report annually to OGIA on make-good obligations (max 500 penalty units for non-compliance)
- Make-good agreements limited to bore-related matters only — land access provisions cannot be bundled in
- New baseline assessment strategy required for cumulative management area reports
Bill Journey
▸Committee20 Nov 2025View Hansard
Referred to Health, Environment and Innovation Committee
5 members · Chair: Robert Molhoek
The Health, Environment and Innovation Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The committee's review focused on proposals to introduce General Environmental Duty (GED) Codes, streamline environmental approvals for environmentally relevant activities, and strengthen notification and restoration duties under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. The bill aims to provide clearer guidance on how individuals and corporations can achieve compliance with their general environmental duty.
Key findings (4)
- The bill proposes introducing GED Codes to outline how people and corporations can achieve compliance with the General Environmental Duty
- The Environmental Protection Act 1994 places core duties on all persons in Queensland, including the duty to prevent or minimise environmental harm
- The bill addresses duties to notify environmental harm and to restore the environment after incidents causing unlawful harm
- The Minister is already empowered to make codes of practice under the EP Act, and the bill builds on this framework
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed.
Committee report tabled
Assent date: 4 September 2025
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