POLICY TO FORGE OUR FUTURE CAIRNS TNQ STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES 2022-23
LAND USE AND AGRICULTURE COUNCIL: ALL TNQ STATE ELECTORATE: ALL TNQ FEDERAL ELECTORATE: KENNEDY, LEICHHARDT
BRIEFING NOTE SUMMARY • To reduce the uncertainty facing investors in agricultural development, improved strategic land use planning and mechanisms for tenure resolution are required. To facilitate this process, it is proposed that Strategic Agricultural Development Areas be prioritised and established. • This approach would be complemented by the creation of an Office of the Coordinator General in Far North Queensland. The Office is required to coordinate more effective strategic regional land use planning and major development approvals, supported by increased State investment to process subsidiary tenure resolution efforts.
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THE ISSUE
A CSIRO and James Cook University (JCU) report into land tenure issues in northern Australia identified key actions required to ensure land tenure arrangements facilitate rather than hinder investment in the region. The report identified that the majority of land in northern Australia is crown-owned (75.4%), two-thirds of which is pastoral leasehold. Another 18.5% is Indigenous land, and privately owned land accounts for 6.1%1. However, Indigenous land interests cover an estimated 94% of northern Australia and there are limited arrangements to support traditional owners in leading development opportunities within these various tenures. In the state of Queensland, an estimated 65% of land is leasehold2, with term leases for grazing and agriculture the principal arrangement. High value agriculture is permitted by the Native Title Act (1993) on term leases subject to notices, which does not require an Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) or consent. In 1996 the Native Title Act confirmed existing freehold and perpetual leases extinguished native title, however it is the State’s view this can only be achieved if native title is extinguished either by agreement (ILUA)
or order of the Court. Many pastoral tenures therefore have quite restrictive requirements that need careful negotiation for development. Native title issues in particular are sensitive as the land holder cannot achieve more secure tenure unless native title is surrendered or extinguished. Many others are impacted by the Queensland Vegetation Management Act (1999)3, which was amended in 2018 to ban broad-scale clearing of remnant vegetation for agriculture. The reduced certainty regarding land use is impacting both agricultural and environmental management investment, as many leaseholder and financial institutions require a more secure form of tenure to underpin the huge capital investment required for high-value agriculture. Combined with land tenure uncertainty, an opportunity exists to streamline development approvals to improve agricultural investment in Tropical North Queensland (TNQ).
