The Queensland Government has opened public consultation on a major review of the state’s Environmental Offsets Framework, and we strongly encourage our members and community to have a read and submit feedback.
Environmental offsets play a huge role in how development impacts are managed across Queensland. In simple terms, offsets are intended to compensate for environmental damage caused by approved projects by funding restoration, conservation or protection elsewhere. The current framework has been operating for more than a decade, and the Government is now proposing significant changes to how offsets are delivered, funded and regulated.
For communities like ours, where development pressure sits alongside globally significant habitat and fragile coastal ecosystems, these policies matter. They influence how habitat restoration is funded, how environmental damage is calculated and what kinds of conservation outcomes are considered acceptable across Queensland.
The discussion paper outlines several major focus areas, including:
- changing how offset payments are calculated;
- increasing flexibility around how offsets can be delivered;
- streamlining approval and legal processes;
- expanding the use of advanced offsets and protected areas;
- changing rules around indirect offsets such as wildlife crossings and threat mitigation projects;
- and improving coordination between State and Commonwealth environmental frameworks.
One of the more significant discussion points is the Government’s acknowledgement that the current system has struggled to keep pace with development impacts, with delays in delivering conservation outcomes and large amounts of money accumulating in the Offset Account without projects being delivered on-ground.
The Government is actively asking for feedback from community members, landholders, conservation groups, Traditional Owners, industry and the broader public before any final reforms are made.
You can read the full discussion paper and submit feedback here:
Queensland Environmental Offsets Framework Consultation
Feedback can also be emailed directly to:
offsetsreview@detsi.qld.gov.au
Public consultation closes at 5pm on Monday, 29th June 2026
We encourage our members to take the time to read through the proposed changes and have a say. Whether you’re involved in restoration, conservation, farming, tourism, development or simply care about the future of Queensland’s environment, this framework will shape how environmental impacts are managed for years to come.