Incorporating landowner feedback from a number of forums in the Surat Basin, he told parliament a liaison officer had been appointed to work with landowners, and the state government had funded the services of a lawyer to give landowners legal advice.

“We’re developing a code of conduct for explorers; setting up a joint office with my department and the Environmental Protection Agency in either Dalby or Roma; and we’re working on a standard compensation agreement to simplify what can be complex negotiations between landowners and resource companies,” he said.

Wilson added that he comes from the wheat belt and understands the situation for landowners, but he emphasised that it was in the best interest of all parties to strike the right balance.