Farmers claim partial victory as Queensland government backflips on gas regulation
The Queensland government has reversed its decision to remove mandatory gas mining approvals for land over the Condamine Alluvium following intense farmer lobbying.
Farmers in Queensland are claiming a partial victory following the government's decision to walk back controversial changes to gas mining regulations. On Wednesday, Parliament passed amended legislation that reinstates the requirement for gas companies to obtain a Regional Interests Development Approval (RIDA) before drilling on farmland located above the vital Condamine Alluvium aquifer.
The Condamine Alluvium is an essential underground water supply beneath the Darling Downs region, which is fundamental to local crop production and livestock management. Initially, the government intended to scrap the RIDA process, arguing that it created administrative duplication. However, this proposal triggered a massive backlash from Darling Downs farmers and agricultural lobby groups who feared the move would compromise land safety.
Stuart Armitage, a farmer from Cecil Plains and spokesperson for 'Save Our Darling Downs', described the outcome as a hard-fought win. He noted that the original bill was viewed as a major threat by the farming community. While the reinstatement of protections is a relief, other landholders, such as Liza Balmain, expressed that the experience left them feeling exhausted, noting that they are essentially back to where they started in terms of industry oversight.
Member for Condamine, Pat Weir, was instrumental in the legislative shift, having lobbied the Premier and Deputy Premier to retain the RIDA provisions. The new legislation also incorporates a dedicated compensation framework for agricultural land damaged by subsidence caused by coal-seam gas operations. This aspect of the bill has been welcomed by industry bodies, including Cotton Australia and the Queensland Farmers Federation.
Despite the legislative changes, concerns persist among the farming community. Stuart Armitage and Katter's Australian Party MP Robbie Katter have criticized the compensation framework, labeling it as a mere 'sugar hit' that fails to address the long-term sustainability of the land. Armitage emphasized that the struggle is far from over, calling for a total moratorium on gas mining in the alluvium area to ensure that generational farming interests are protected from permanent damage.