The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) is applauding the Queensland Government for its recent reforms to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.
AMEC says the amendments indicate the state government’s intent to improve coordination and reduce duplication in order to provide enhanced confidence in projects that support Queensland’s economy and Australia’s broader critical minerals ambitions.
As reported, the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026 aims to secure critical minerals investment, create more jobs, and grow the economy for regional and rural Queensland.
The declaration of a State Strategic Project under the reforms is intended to streamline the approvals process, but without automatically approving projects or removing existing requirements.
AMEC CEO Warren Pearce says the reforms reflect the “practical reality that successful critical minerals development relies on more than just the resource itself”.
“Critical minerals development doesn’t stop at the mine gate. Planning for long-term infrastructure such as ports, rail networks, and water and energy supply must be coordinated and forward-looking,” Pearce says.
“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. Better planning and alignment will give greater certainty and help projects move from discovery to production faster.”
In order to capture the full value of Queensland’s critical minerals opportunity, AMEC says there must be better coordination between government, industry, and key stakeholders.
“These reforms recognise the importance of partnering with industry to plan and deliver infrastructure that supports both mining development and regional communities,” Pearce adds.
“Strengthening coordination across government and prioritising enabling infrastructure will improve project timelines, reduce duplication, and enhance Queensland’s attractiveness as an investment destination.”
In regional Queensland, infrastructure gaps often present a major barrier to bringing critical minerals deposits towards development.
AMEC says these changes have the potential to support stronger investment outcomes for the state and improve certainty for both companies and investors.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Main Image: AMEC
