Minister for Mines and Energy Geoff Wilson released a discussion paper yesterday giving stakeholders three months in which to comment and contribute to the review of the Mineral Resources Act 1989.

The discussion paper covers the current and possible future environment for the exploration and mining industry, the objectives of the legislation and mining tenures.

Wilson said the Act was being reviewed to accommodate the major changes and incredible growth in the mining industry.

“Conducting this review does not indicate that the MRA is fundamentally flawed or that sweeping changes are necessarily required,” he said.

“We're in the grip of a resources boom and we need to move with the times.”

Wilson said that as well as reviewing the legislation, ways to improve the administration of the Act would be also investigated.

“Issues such as more streamlined procedures for mining and petroleum tenure processing, improved mining title registration and management, better security of tenure and the transfer of mineral rights will all be addressed,” the minister said.

“We need to ensure effective stewardship of the mineral resources owned by the people of Queensland for present and future generations."

Coal is the state’s most important export commodity, with coal production increasing from around 124 million tonnes in 1999-2000 to about 172Mt in 2004-05.

There are currently 45 operating coal mines in Queensland, including 13 underground mines, most of which are located in the Bowen Basin.

At the start of 2006, some 6.1 million hectares of land was subject to exploration permits for coal, with significant potential for further development of coal resources in the Bowen Basin.

Stakeholders and other interested parties can obtain a copy of the discussion paper at www.dme.qld.gov.au