New Gasfields Commission Act 2013 (No. 16) assented by Queensland Parliament

Queensland has today assented a new Act to establish the Gasfields
Commission to manage and improve the sustainable coexistence of landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry in Queensland - the Gasfields Commission Act 2013 (No. 16) (QLD).

The Act also provides the necessary head of power for the statutory appointments of the Gasfields Commissioner (the chairperson), the Commission’s part-time commissioners and the general manager by the Governor in Council. The Act also details the functions of the Commission, and provides it with the necessary powers it requires to achieve its functions.

Queensland is strong exponential growth in the onshore gas industry. Landholders and communities have expressed concerns associated with this industry, including apprehension about water and land contamination and the impact on social infrastructure.

The gas and agriculture sectors are very important to the government and constitute two of the four pillars of the economy. Establishing the Gasfields Commission was an election commitment and it purpose is to manage and improve the sustainable coexistence between landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry. 

The Commission has been operational since July 2013 however legislation is required to formally establish the Commission as a statutory body and provide it with the powers necessary to meet its objectives:

• making recommendations to the relevant Minister that regulatory frameworks and legislation relating to the onshore gas industry be reviewed or amended;

• making recommendations to the relevant Minister and onshore gas industry about leading practice or management relating to the onshore gas industry;

• advising the Minister and government entities about matters relating to the onshore gas industry;

• advising Minister and government entities about the ability of landholders, regional communities and the onshore gas industry to coexist within an identified area;

• obtaining information from government entities, landholders and relevant entities;

• obtaining advice about the onshore gas industry or functions of the Commission from government entities;

• partnering with other entities for the purpose of conducting research related to the onshore gas industry;

• publishing educational materials and other information about the onshore gas industry;

• reviewing the effectiveness of government entities in implementing regulatory frameworks that relate to the onshore gas industry; and

• convening advisory bodies to assist the Commission to perform any of the above functions.

TimeBase’s LawOne Service guarantees reliable, accurate and convenient access to Australian Legislation from all 9 jurisdictions. Contact TimeBase for a free trial today.