Premier Peter Beattie and environment minister Desley Boyle assured mining companies that under the new laws rehabilitation requirements would not change if they completed rehabilitation early in the life of a mining project.

"The new laws will be our guarantee not to shift the goal posts on rehabilitation for companies that play by the rules,” Beattie said.

"Under progressive rehabilitation, if a company meets the requirements that apply at the time it completes rehabilitation, any new standards that might be introduced down the track will not apply to that project.”

Beattie said the new legislation would give legislative certainty on rehabilitation, as well as promoting the environment and encouraging jobs growth.

Boyle took the submission to Cabinet yesterday. Amendments to the Environmental Protection Act are expected to come into play this year.