The Queensland Representative Body Alliance has welcomed changes preventing renewable energy projects from being declared State strategic projects while warning other developments could still affect Native Title rights and protected areas.
The concerns relate to amendments to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and the new State strategic project framework, which the QRBA says could create a pathway for compulsory acquisition of Country.
Muluridji and Wakaman woman and North Queensland Land Council chief executive Shaquille Chong raised concerns about the impact on native title negotiations.
"This is more than a change in administrative processes; it allows the Queensland Government to bypass an important statutory safeguard under the Native Title Act," Ms Chong said.
The amendments removed the ability for renewable energy projects to be declared State strategic projects, a change welcomed by the QRBA because those projects will no longer be able to use the framework to compulsorily acquire native title land.
However, other infrastructure projects, including mines, may still be declared State strategic projects under the new framework.
The QRBA said native title holders currently have a right to negotiate under the Native Title Act 1993, including access to independent arbitration, but warned those opportunities could be reduced where compulsory acquisition is available.
The alliance said native title holders could be forced to negotiate while facing the prospect that Country could ultimately be compulsorily acquired by the Queensland Government.
QRBA's concerns centre on how the State strategic project framework could affect native title rights and interests, particularly where compulsory acquisition may reduce opportunities for native title holders to negotiate decisions affecting Country.
The QRBA also raised concerns that the amendments did not include an exclusion for ecotourism projects in protected areas, as was included for renewable energy projects.
Ms Chong said national parks held environmental, cultural and spiritual significance for native title holders.
"Queensland's national parks are protected for a reason. They are places of exceptional environmental, cultural and spiritual significance and are profoundly important to native title holders," Ms Chong said.
"With the passage of these amendments, Queensland's protected areas are now left vulnerable to an agenda of development at any cost. Native title holders should not have to fight to protect country that is supposed to be safe".
