On The Land
27 July, 2025
Miners up in arms over new levy
SMALL miners across the region are up in arms after the Queensland Fire Department enforced a sweeping reinterpretation of the Emergency Management Levy (EML), now targeting mining leases.
The leases can now be charged for the levy based not on activity or infrastructure, but on total land area – even if the land is completely vacant.
North Queensland Miners Association (NQMA) treasurer Terry Edwards says the ruling blindsided leaseholders, many of whom are already struggling under the weight of rising costs and overregulation.
“We firmly believe the levy has been applied in error and is bureaucratic overreach,” he said.
“We’re talking about a levy on scrubland, much of it unused, with no risk profile or emergency service access.
“The irony is that the very people paying this levy are often the same SES and rural fire volunteers who respond to these emergencies.”
The EML, originally introduced in 2012 to fund emergency services, is collected via local government rate notices.
Until recently, the Etheridge Shire Council had discretion to accept statutory declarations from leaseholders affirming land was inactive, and therefore eligible to be levied under the vacant land category for a minimum Emergency Management Levy to be applied.
That changed in February 2024, when the Queensland Fire Department informed Etheridge Shire Council that mining leases must now be charged based on area – regardless of use.
Member for Hill Shane Knuth has thrown his full support behind the NQMA and condemned the department’s approach.
“While I fully support the Queensland Fire Service and the vital work they do, this levy is nothing more than a State Government cash grab,” he said.
“It penalises small miners by charging emergency management fees for land that is literally untouched bush. Worse still, it charges working leases by land size instead of how much they produce – it’s illogical, unfair, and economically destructive.
“Many small operators could now face EML charges so high it makes their leases unworkable. If this continues, the only viable option for some will be to shut up shop entirely.”
Mr Edwards said he suspected this was” just the beginning”, with a strong belief the same policy would soon be enforced state-wide.
“We believe the Fire Department clearly intends to replicate this audit model across Queensland. This could cripple the viability of hundreds of small miners who are already the backbone of regional communities,” Mr Edwards said.
The North Queensland Miners Association and Mr Knuth are now calling for immediate government action.
They want the immediate suspension of the Emergency Management Levy for small-scale mining leases until a full review is conducted, and for the NQMA to be consulted on the Emergency Management Levy and its current and future application to small-scale mining leases.
“The Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery can obviously see this as an issue and I thank her for her reply to my question in parliament about the concerns of the industry being included in a review,” Mr Knuth said.
“The State Government should be looking at ways to encourage the mining industry in Queensland by reducing government costs, otherwise, we may as well shut the industry down and start importing everything from overseas.”
