Queensland’s resources sector has welcomed new legislation aimed at accelerating the delivery of critical minerals projects, with industry groups saying the reforms could help reduce duplication and move developments from discovery to production faster.
The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 will create a new pathway for strategic projects, while strengthening coordination around the infrastructure needed to support major developments.
The Queensland Government said the reforms will allow projects of the highest significance to be recognised as State Strategic Projects, giving them access to streamlined regulatory pathways and stronger planning around enabling infrastructure.
While the changes will apply to critical minerals developments, they will also cover other projects considered strategically important to the state.
To Queensland’s resources sector, the legislation has been viewed as a step towards addressing one of the key challenges facing emerging critical minerals projects: the gap between exploration success and commercial production.
Industry groups have long argued that approvals, infrastructure access and coordination across government can have a significant impact on whether projects are able to progress beyond the discovery stage.
“Critical minerals development doesn’t stop at the mine gate,” Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) chief executive officer Warren Pearce said.
“Planning for long-term infrastructure such as ports, rail networks, and water and energy supply must be coordinated and forward-looking.”
Critical minerals projects often rely on infrastructure beyond the resource itself, with access to transport, water and energy networks playing a key role in determining whether a project can advance.
AMEC said improved coordination between government and industry could help remove bottlenecks that slow development, particularly for projects in regional and remote areas.
“For many critical minerals projects, particularly in regional and remote areas, access to well-coordinated infrastructure is often the difference between a project proceeding or stalling,” Pearce said.
“Better planning and alignment will give greater certainty and help projects move from discovery to production faster.”
Queensland Resources Council chief executive officer (CEO) Janette Hewson said the legislation would help create a more efficient approvals system while maintaining the state’s existing environmental and regulatory standards.
“This bill is a major step toward a more streamlined, coordinated approvals system cutting duplication, improving certainty for proponents, and accelerating projects of state importance,” Hewson said.
“It will help unlock investment and fast-track the transition from exploration to production for resource projects including critical minerals.”
The reforms come as Australian states continue to position themselves within emerging critical minerals supply chains, where project timelines, downstream processing opportunities and infrastructure readiness are increasingly central to investment decisions.
Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the legislation was designed to help the state capitalise on growing opportunities across critical minerals and other strategic sectors.
“We’re sending a clear message to the resources, critical minerals, even tourism sectors, as well as communities: Queensland welcomes projects that create jobs, support regional communities and strengthen our economy,” Bleijie said.
For AMEC, the benefits of the reforms could extend beyond individual project approvals, particularly if the legislation helps align infrastructure planning with long-term resource development.
“Strengthening coordination across government and prioritising enabling infrastructure will improve project timelines, reduce duplication, and enhance Queensland’s attractiveness as an investment destination,” Pearce said.
