30 July 2026. Shane McCarthy, AgForce General President
Queensland’s future prosperity depends on getting the balance right.
AgForce recognises the important role responsible resource development plays in supporting jobs and investment. Our state has a proud history of both agricultural and resource production. But AgForce is calling for a substantial rethink of the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) Bill because it shifts the balance too far towards facilitating projects and streamlining approvals, without adequate protections for agricultural landholders, farming businesses and regional communities.
Agriculture contributes more than $20 billion annually to the Queensland economy. It underpins regional communities, supports thousands of jobs and delivers the food and fibre Australians rely on every day. But land is a finite resource, and once productive agricultural land is permanently compromised, it’s gone forever.
That’s why development approvals can’t come at the expense of reliable food and fibre production.
In its current form, the Bill would have significant implications for agricultural landholders, businesses, and regional, rural and remote communities. Our concern is not with development but with legislation that potentially diminishes landholder rights, weakens procedural safeguards and places agricultural production in direct competition with other land uses.
At a time when Queensland producers are already navigating increasing regulatory pressure, including the implications of reforms to the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, it is more important than ever to protect productive agricultural land. Legislation that reduces future agricultural production capacity risks undermining our long-term food security, export competitiveness and economic resilience.
The challenge before the state government is to ensure that one industry is not advanced at the expense of another.
AgForce is also seeking stronger safeguards within the legislation.
We believe agricultural land and productivity, food and fibre production, water resources, animal welfare and biosecurity obligations should be mandatory considerations in every decision made by the Coordinator-General. These issues are fundamental to Queensland’s long-term economic and environmental wellbeing.
We want independent merits review rights for decisions that affect agricultural land. We need safeguards in place that ensure accountability, procedural fairness and public confidence.
Queensland’s agricultural sector is not opposed to progress. Farmers understand the importance of investment and economic development. But any critical minerals development must occur in a way that respects private property rights, protects water resources, safeguards productive agricultural land and maintains community confidence in the approvals process.
The government has an opportunity to improve this legislation and deliver a framework that supports both responsible resource development and a strong agricultural future.
Getting that balance right is in the interests of every Queenslander.