Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
OrganisationReferenced in 5 bills
Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment Bill 2025
This bill allows greenhouse gas exploration wells in the Great Artesian Basin to be converted into water supply bores for local landholders, rather than being plugged and abandoned. It was introduced after the 2024 ban on greenhouse gas storage in the Great Artesian Basin ended the only exploration permit (EPQ10), held by CTSCo, leaving several wells that need to be decommissioned.
Major Sports Facilities and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
This bill updates Queensland's laws for major sports facilities and events. It allows Gold Coast stadiums to host concerts until 10:30pm by removing restrictive liquor licensing noise conditions, increases penalties for ticket scalping, and modernises the governance of the Stadiums Queensland board.
Waste Reduction and Recycling (Strengthening the Container Refund Scheme) Amendment Bill 2026
This bill overhauls the governance of Queensland's Container Refund Scheme — the 10-cent bottle and can return program — following a parliamentary inquiry that found significant weaknesses in how the scheme is run. It gives the government much stronger oversight of the scheme coordinator (currently Container Exchange), requires an independent board majority, and expands the scheme's purpose to include supporting environmental and community programs.
Regional Planning Interests (Condamine Alluvium) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
This bill protects the Condamine Alluvium — a large underground water source vital to Darling Downs farming — from damage by coal seam gas (CSG) operations. It delivers on a Queensland Government election commitment to require gas companies to prove new projects will not harm the aquifer, while also expanding compensation rights for landholders affected by ground subsidence from CSG extraction.
Environmental Protection (Efficiency and Streamlining) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025
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.