Galilee Basin (Coal Prohibition) 2018

# Galilee Basin (Coal Prohibition) Bill 2018 ## What it does This bill would ban all thermal coal mining (the kind burned for electricity) in Queensland's Galilee Basin region. Once it became law, no new coal mining operations could start there, and existing permits that allow coal mining would become invalid. ## Why it matters The Galilee Basin is one of Australia's largest untapped coal reserves. Stopping mining there would be a significant climate policy move, since thermal coal is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. It would also affect jobs and investment in central Queensland's mining sector. ## Key details - **Scope**: The ban applies specifically to thermal coal mining in the Galilee Basin (western central Queensland), defined using government bioregional maps from June 2018 - **Legal force**: The law overrides other Commonwealth laws, including environmental approval processes, meaning existing permits that conflict with this ban would have no effect - **Commencement**: It would start the day after receiving Royal Assent (the Governor-General's approval) - **Property rights safeguard**: The bill includes a clause protecting it from constitutional challenge on the grounds that it unfairly takes property without compensation

🔒 Voting closed — this bill has been decided by parliament