Queensland Energy and Resources Insights

05 February 2009

Welcome to the February edition of Queensland Energy & Resources Insights - and a Happy New Year! In this edition we'll look at some of the recent changes affecting the energy and resources sector in Queensland:

two new Bills: the Greenhouse Gas Storage Bill and Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill
how the proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will affect the energy and resources sector; and
changes to the Mineral Resources Act requiring mining lease-holders to offer unwanted incidental CSG to the holders of overlapping petroleum leases

We also have another of our popular 'Did You Know?' articles, this time looking at contract variations.

Greenhouse Gas Storage Bill 2008 (Qld)

By Martin Aylward and Prudence Harvey.

The Queensland parliament has finally released the Greenhouse Gas Storage Bill. Martin Aylward and Prue Harvey explore the tenement framework it sets up and consider what this may mean for current mining and petroleum tenement holders.

Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2008

By Dan Howard and Martin Aylward.

The MRET scheme is about to be significantly expanded, and along with the CPRS it will have a major impact on energy costs, say Dan Howard and Martin Aylward.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - Impact on energy and resources sector

By Martin Aylward and Prudence Harvey.

Martin Aylward and Prue Harvey look at the long-awaited Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper and discover that, although kinder to industry than the Green Paper, the proposed reductions and corresponding emissions trading scheme will still present considerable challenges to the energy and resources industry.

Recent Mineral Resources Act amendments

By James Minchinton and Prudence Harvey.

Amendments to the Mineral Resources Act introduced the application of a public interest test for mining tenements and a requirement that the holders of mining leases offer unwanted incidental CSG to the holders of overlapping petroleum leases, as James Minchinton and Prue Harvey explain.

Did you know? Amending contracts - tips to avoid common mistakes

By Ben Cansdale.

Agreements often need to be varied as parties' circumstances change or their relationship develops, but there is no universal process for varying a contract that works for all occasions. Ben Cansdale sets out some simple tips to ensure your variations are implemented correctly and are enforceable.

Key Contacts