Can Gas and Agriculture Really Coexist—Or Is Planning purely performative?

What is it about?

What’s the issue? In Queensland, gas companies are increasingly mining on prime agricultural land—land that is also farmers' homes and workplaces. This co-location creates tension between two very different land uses: industrialised gas extraction and rural food production. While government planning frameworks promise “coexistence” this paper asks: Is that promise being fulfilled? What this study did: The study closely examined Queensland’s planning laws, especially the Regional Planning Interests Act, to see whether they genuinely protect farmland and farmers when gas developments are proposed. It analysed the legal framework, key planning decisions, and how they played out in reality—especially for host farmers on Strategic Cropping Land and Priority Agricultural Areas. Key findings: Coexistence is more promise than practice. Despite planning rules that claim to protect farmland and livelihoods, the system often defaults in favour of gas development. Procedural justice is lacking. Farmers are supposed to be consulted, but in many cases their voices carry little weight in actual decision-making. Coexistence is rhetorical under proponent-led assessment. While the planning framework gestures toward balance and consultation, in practice, key impact assessments are conducted by the gas proponents themselves. This self-assessment model undermines procedural integrity and makes "coexistence" more of a policy slogan than a demonstrable outcome. Workplace safety is overlooked. The fact that farms are also high-risk workplaces is not adequately considered in planning processes, raising concerns about regulatory neglect.

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Photo by Loren King on Unsplash

Photo by Loren King on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Why it matters: As Australia’s energy system shifts, rural communities face complex pressures. Without meaningful inclusion of agricultural landholders and safeguards for rural workplaces, energy transition policies risk deepening existing inequalities. This paper shows that current planning laws need urgent reform to uphold justice, safety, and sustainability in rural areas.