Queensland’s mineral legislation has undergone significant and rapidly moving changes to give CBM mineral status so it can deal with the growing prominence of the gas, Rhodes told the Excellence in Exploration and Mining Conference in Sydney today.

The change has prompted adjustments to several acts including the water act, which has opened the door for the re-use of waste water.

Rhodes said NSW had made few changes and did not include CBM as a mineral.

“I can see greater conflict in the future between governments and people developing, transporting and using the gas,” he said.

Session chair Peter Woodford Telluride Investment Trust commented that similar problems would arise across the gamut of resources if governments did not make more of an effort to bring their laws into line.