25 Aug 2026
With the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 set to return to Queensland Parliament this week, the Queensland Farmers' Federation (QFF) is urging the Queensland Government to make necessary amendments to protect the state's prime agricultural land into the future.
In particular, QFF is concerned by the proposed new State Strategic Project (SSP) framework's potential to override existing landholder protections.
QFF CEO Kylie Porter said regional communities understand the importance of government moving quickly on critical minerals projects to create jobs and attract investment in the regions, however existing landholder protections must be retained.
“QFF and our members are seeking amendments for a clear legislative exclusion preventing the SSP framework from overriding, modifying, displacing or diminishing Priority Agricultural Areas and Strategic Cropping Land protections under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014, so that these areas remain fully subject to the Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) process,” Ms Porter said.
"These exclusions under the Regional Planning Interest Act were established because as a state, Queensland recognises that prime agricultural land has a strategic value beyond the life of any individual projects or developments.
"QFF supports the broader intent of the Bill, however Queensland farming needs the assurances that the retention of the RIDA process and its protections will be encompassed.”
Cotton Australia General Manager Michael Murray said that it is essential that the protections that are contained within the Region Planning Interest Act are maintained.
“Queensland only has a limited amount of the “best of the best soils”, and it is imperative that access to this critical resource to grow the food and fibre we need is maintained,” Mr Murray said.
Queensland should not have to choose between major project investment and the protection of its best agricultural land. This land is a finite resource, and the Queensland Government must ensure temporary development projects do not fragment, sterilise or otherwise permanently diminish its productive capacity.
QFF will continue to engage with the Queensland Government to support legislative outcomes that provide necessary and appropriate landholder protections for future generations.
Media contact:
Jak Kirwin
General Manager, Marketing and Communications, QFF
E: comms@qff.org.au
M: 0488 305 106