The review panel will be headed by former Criminal Justice Commission chair Frank Clair; and comprise professor Don McKee, head of department, mining, minerals and material engineering, University of Queensland; and Peter Dowling, company director and former Ernst & Young minerals and energy partner.

Robertson said in Moranbah last week the coal seam gas industry was potentially a very lucrative one for Queensland which is the largest seaborne exporter of coal in the world.

"Central Queensland, with its vast coal resources, is well positioned to become a key player in the coal seam gas industry.

"Implementation of the new coal seam gas regime will allow explorers and developers to invest in coal seam gas projects with certainty and allow greater access to the state's potentially huge coal seam gas resources," he said

Robertson said the independent panel would review stakeholder submissions to the state Government's policy discussion paper that outlines the proposed new coal seam gas regime for Queensland.

"The discussion paper proposes a new coal seam gas regime based on high level objectives and a broad legislative framework which estabishes rights to resources and sets out processes to resolve issues of access associated with overlapping tenure." he said

The deadline for public submissions on the discussion paper closed on April 15.

"The panel's task will be to consider the discussion paper, review all submissions from stakeholders and make recommendations to me about the regime that will provide a clear administrative and legislative basis for cooperation between the petroleum and coal sectors to foster development of this valuable resource.

"This will result in a speedy finalisation of the regime and allow the legislative drafting and implementation process to proceed with the intention of introducing legislative amendments to the Mineral Resources Act and the proposed Petroleum and Gas Act later in the year," he said.