Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed, while also recommending two amendments to strengthen mine safety provisions. The committee was concerned that proposed changes would allow the Minister to appoint people without coal mining experience to safety advisory committees, and that Chief Inspectors should be required to hold First Class Certificates of Competency. The bill ultimately lapsed, with the government noting the committee's recommendations for consideration prior to any reintroduction.

The Education, Employment and Small Business Committee examined the Mines Legislation (Resources Safety) Amendment Bill 2018 and tabled its report on 8 May 2018. The committee recommended the bill be passed, while also recommending that a definition of 'contractor' be added and that site senior executives be notified of reportable diseases on a confidential basis. The government accepted the first recommendation, and committed to further industry consultation on the contractor definition and reportable disease notification proposals. The committee also flagged concerns about civil penalties, privacy in information sharing with WorkCover, and the impact of non-disclosure agreements on disease reporting obligations.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill, which amends the Gasfields Commission Act 2013 to restructure the commission's governance, the Biodiscovery Act 2004 to reduce regulatory burden on commercial supply chains using native biological material, and makes other minor amendments. The committee recommended the bill be passed and asked the Minister to report on the 2016 review of the Biodiscovery Act, including Indigenous intellectual property rights under the Nagoya Protocol. The Government supported both recommendations.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Land Access Ombudsman Bill 2017 and recommended it be passed. The bill proposed establishing a Land Access Ombudsman to provide low-cost dispute resolution between landholders and resource companies over conduct and compensation agreements and make good agreements. While all parties supported the establishment of the Ombudsman, stakeholders raised concerns about investigation procedures, the non-binding nature of outcomes, cost implications for landholders, and jurisdictional overlap with existing dispute resolution processes. A Statement of Reservation was filed but its content was not extractable from the report.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017 and recommended it be passed. The committee considered amendments across multiple transport Acts, including lowering the eligibility age for photo identification cards from 18 to 15 years, enabling alternative application methods for transport services, and changes to dangerous goods transportation and marine safety regulation. The committee raised concerns about concessional pricing for young people seeking photo ID and urged the department to undertake appropriate public consultation on legislative amendments.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee recommended the bill be passed and made seven recommendations, several of which proposed expanding the bill's scope to cover all resource projects regardless of size or commencement date. The committee held extensive public hearings across regional Queensland including Emerald, Middlemount, Moranbah, Mackay, Rockhampton, and Mount Isa. The government supported or partially supported most recommendations, agreeing to expand the 100 per cent fly-in fly-out prohibition to existing large resource projects.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Local Government Electoral (Transparency and Accountability in Local Government) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 and recommended it be passed with five additional recommendations for amendment. The bill implemented six Crime and Corruption Commission recommendations on local government transparency, addressed planning reforms, and clarified building assessment provisions. A Statement of Reservation was filed but its content was not extractable from the report.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill over four months, receiving seven submissions and holding public hearings in Brisbane, Boulia, Longreach, and Emerald. The committee recommended the bill not be passed in its current form, finding that the department should first develop and consult on the State Management Plan and the regulation, and undertake an updated regulatory impact statement. The committee considered the previous RIS, based on the 2011 bill, was inadequate because the current bill used a different fee structure methodology.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Revenue and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 and recommended it be passed. The committee also recommended an amendment requiring local governments to include a statement in their annual reports about actions relating to the Queensland Plan. The committee identified potential breaches of fundamental legislative principles in several clauses, particularly regarding retrospective operation of certain tax provisions.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill and recommended the Legislative Assembly note the contents of its report, rather than making a direct recommendation for passage. Government members supported the establishment of the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, but non-government members did not. The committee acknowledged stakeholder concerns but considered amendment to the bill was not required. A Statement of Reservation was filed by non-government members.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill but could not reach a majority decision on whether it should be passed. Government members supported the bill's omission of water development option provisions (an election commitment for Saving the Great Barrier Reef), while non-government members opposed the removal. The committee unanimously recommended the Department of Natural Resources and Mines continue investigating alternatives for securing water for large-scale projects while considering community impacts.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The bill facilitates the transfer of four SunWater channel irrigation schemes (Emerald, Eton, St George and Theodore) to local management by approximately 3,000 irrigators. All six submitters supported the bill's objectives, and stakeholder concerns were addressed by the department during the inquiry. The committee raised fundamental legislative principle concerns about the exclusion of judicial review for ministerial decisions under the bill.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee recommended the bill be passed and made seven recommendations, including amendments to improve public notification of mining lease applications and landholder protections under the restricted land framework. The committee received submissions from mining industry, landholder and environmental groups, conducted site visits to mines and landholdings, and held public hearings in Brisbane and Toowoomba. The government accepted most recommendations and agreed to move amendments during consideration in detail.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined this private member's bill alongside the government's Planning Bill 2015 and related bills in a cognate inquiry. The committee majority recommended this bill not be passed, instead supporting the government's competing planning reform bills. The committee made 11 recommendations in total, with recommendations 7-11 relating to specific improvements to the government's Planning Bill 2015 covering heritage protections, exemption certificate transparency, chosen assessment managers, notification requirements, and infrastructure charging for non-state schools.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Transport Legislation (Taxi Services) Amendment Bill 2015, a private member's bill introduced by Rob Katter MP to deter illegal ride-sharing services (such as Uber) through a demerit point scheme. The committee recommended the bill not be passed, but instead recommended the Minister urgently review enforcement mechanisms for the existing regulatory framework. The government supported the enforcement review recommendation and proposed its own amendments to strengthen compliance.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Brisbane Casino Agreement Amendment Bill 2016, which replaces the existing Brisbane Casino Agreement to enable the Queens Wharf Brisbane development. The committee recommended the bill be passed after being satisfied that appropriate heritage protections were in place for historic buildings including the Treasury Building and Land Administration Building. The committee received two submissions and held a public briefing with three government departments.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The bill facilitates the Queen's Wharf Brisbane integrated resort and casino development by the Destination Brisbane Consortium, ratifying the casino agreement and creating a new 'PDA-associated development' category in the Economic Development Act. The committee received eight submissions from councils and stakeholders, and noted multiple potential breaches of fundamental legislative principles but accepted the justifications provided.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill over three weeks, receiving 9 submissions and holding a public briefing. The committee recommended the bill be passed, noting it reinstates rights of judicial review for Aurukun bauxite resource projects and provides protections for landowners. The committee stressed that the Government must be proactive in ensuring development milestones are met so the Aurukun bauxite resource is not warehoused.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee recommended the Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015 be passed with amendments. The committee made 13 recommendations, the majority unanimous, focused on improving transparency and consultation in port master planning, clarifying restrictions on capital dredging and sea-based disposal of dredge material, and considering the future management of the Port of Cairns. The government supported or partially supported most recommendations and moved amendments during consideration in detail.

The Finance and Administration Committee examined this Private Member's Bill alongside the Government's North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2015. The committee unanimously recommended that this Private Member's Bill not be passed, though government and non-government members disagreed on the reasons. The committee was also unable to agree on whether the companion Government Bill should be passed. The inquiry received extensive submissions and held public hearings on the economic, environmental, and Indigenous land rights impacts of phasing out sand mining on North Stradbroke Island.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the Building Queensland Bill 2015 and unanimously recommended it be passed, with two additional amendments to improve transparency. The committee called for mandatory publication of the infrastructure pipeline document and timely public reporting of ministerial directions. The Queensland Government supported all three recommendations.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill and recommended it be passed. The bill amends the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which regulates vehicles over 4.5 tonnes across multiple Australian jurisdictions. As Queensland hosts the national legislation, amendments passed by the Queensland Parliament automatically apply in most other participating states and territories.

The Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Committee examined the bill over approximately eight weeks, receiving six submissions and holding public hearings. The majority of the committee recommended the bill be passed. The bill covered three distinct areas: removing the default position of council CEOs as returning officers for local government elections, deferring the national heavy vehicle registration scheme to July 2018, and making the Queensland Reconstruction Authority permanent. The committee also recommended that the Electoral Commission Queensland be required to consult with local governments on reducing election costs.