[no bill text published] Fines for Illegal Fossicking and Blocking Officers, and Mining and Surveying Groups Must Report
Mineral Titles Legislation Amendment Bill 2026
Introduced by: Gerard Maley (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
People face a fine of up to 80 penalty units for fossicking on land after being denied access
People face a fine of up to 40 penalty units for obstructing someone exercising powers under Section 177
Fossickers must notify exploration licence holders within 28 days if they find more than the prescribed amount of gold in one day
Holders of exploration and mining licences must give the Minister an annual report
People conducting airborne surveys must give the Minister a written report within 12 months
The Minister must notify pastoral lease holders if a fossicking area declaration is proposed for pastoral land
Corporations that run fossicking tours can apply for commercial fossicking permits
Holders of exploration licences granted on or after 1 January 2000 can access land between licence areas when a licence expires
People can be fined up to 80 penalty units for fossicking on land after being denied access.
People who interfere with or block an authorised officer from doing their job can be fined up to 40 penalty units.
Fossickers must notify the exploration licence holder within 28 days if they find more than the allowed amount of gold in one day.
Holders of exploration and mining licences must give the Minister an annual report.
People who conduct airborne surveys must give the Minister a written report within 12 months of the survey.
The Minister must give written notice to pastoral lease holders if the Minister proposes to declare their land a fossicking area.
Corporations can only apply for a commercial fossicking permit if they run fossicking tours.
Holders of exploration licences granted on or after 1 January 2000 can access the land between their licence areas once the licence expires.