Toowoomba solicitor Glen Martin has been appointed to work with Legal Aid Queensland’s Farm and Rural Legal Service providing advice and assistance to landholders throughout the state impacted by mining and related issues.

AgForce has welcomed Mr Martin’s appointment to a role AgForce had identified as being essential, in light of the accelerated rate of exploration and mine development in Queensland.

However, AgForce Queensland chief executive officer Brett de Hayr said the more complicated policy and legislative issues surrounding the mining-farming interface must be recognised if the ongoing concerns of the agricultural sector are to be addressed.

“The land access forums during the past week were well attended and conveyed information about landholders and miners rights and obligations, but they also highlighted the many issues regarding government policies that cut across multiple agencies,” Mr de Hayr said.

“For example, there were many questions about the environmental approval process – which assesses impact on the environment – and why an agricultural impact statement is not also considered as part of the process.”

AgForce wants consideration given to the value of having land available for future food production by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, in the same way that consideration is given to environmental impacts by the Environmental Protection Agency during the mining approval process.

“The Department of Mines and Energy is to be commended for organising these land access forums and the appointment of a Legal Aid solicitor is welcome, but now the government needs to go one step further and amend the relevant legislation to make it more equitable and efficient.”

“What needs to happen now is for the State Government to appoint an external person of standing to undertake an independent review of issues such as

• Compensation

• Interagency enforcement activities and

• The adequacy of various legislative requirements.”

Mr de Hayr said the Deputy Premier is taking a lead role in sorting out the conflict between mining and agriculture sectors and AgForce had a productive meeting with him recently, but the sticking points between the two sectors are likely to become the focus of Mining Summits at Dysart, Mt Isa and Dalby later this month unless more progress is made.