17 August 2026
AgForce is strongly opposed to any expansion of compulsory acquisition and statutory land access powers that could leave Queensland farmers with less control over their land and weaker negotiating power.
AgForce is actively engaging with the Queensland Government and Members of the Queensland Parliament regarding the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 (the Bill), which is currently before the Queensland Parliament.
The Bill proposes significant changes to the framework for State Strategic Projects, including new or expanded powers relating to land access, compulsory acquisition, infrastructure and the modification of existing approval processes.
Critically, the Bill is not confined to critical minerals. It can be applied to any project considered to be a State Strategic Project, meaning any project, private or public, considered to be critical, essential or high priority to the State.
This will result in a loss of bargaining power by landholders. A landholder who would otherwise be negotiating a project commercially could face the prospect of compulsory acquisition or statutory access if agreement cannot be reached.
AgForce believes these powers must be a genuine last resort and not a tool that can be used to gain leverage over Queensland landholders during negotiations.
AgForce has made its concerns clear to Government and during the parliamentary process. AgForce, along with numerous other organisations, opposed aspects of the Bill during the submission process Despite these concerns, the Parliamentary Committee recommended that the Bill proceed without amendment
AgForce is pressing Government for amendments within the Bill to ensure:
- Only projects that genuinely demonstrate a compelling State interest are declared State Strategic Projects;
- compulsory acquisition and statutory land access powers are genuine last resorts; meaningful negotiation occurs before those powers are exercised;
- landholders have sufficient opportunity to obtain independent professional advice, with reasonable and necessary costs covered by the proponent from the commencement of negotiations;
- the impacts on agricultural productivity, farm viability, water, infrastructure and biosecurity are properly considered; reasonable alternative locations and routes are assessed;
- appropriate review and appeal rights are retained; changes to existing legislation do not inadvertently weaken protections for agricultural land;
- and agricultural productivity and long-term food and fibre security are recognised as strategic State interests
AgForce will continue to push for these protections. We will not support a framework that shifts the risk and cost of major project development onto Queensland farmers.
How You Can Help:
Members can help - contact your local MP
AgForce is asking members to contact their local State MP and raise their concerns about the potential impact of the Bill on agriculture and private property rights.
Your local MP needs to understand what these changes could mean for primary producers in your region, particularly where productive agricltural land and farming enterprises may be affected by major projects
When contacting your MP, please ask them to:
- understand the potential impacts of the Bill on primary producers and agricultural businesses;
- support strong protections for productive agricultural land and farming enterprises;
- support compulsory acquisition and statutory land-access powers being genuine last resorts;
- support meaningful negotiation and access to independent professional advice for affected landholders; and
- ensure agriculture and long-term food and fibre security are recognised as important State interests.
AgForce has prepared a member letter template that can be used to contact your local MP.
Members are encouraged to personalise the letter by including their own circumstances and concerns about the potential impact on their property, business and region.
- Find your regional MPs - click here
- State Electorate Boundaries - click here
- Download Member Letter Template
Other information
AgForce sent out a media release about the Critical Minerals Bill on 13 August 2026 - see here.