Queensland's Labor government has reinstated public rights to object to major mine projects.
New laws passed by parliament on Friday allow people to object to the Land Court granting an environmental authority for a proposed mining activity if the Coordinator-General has previously assessed the activity.
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham says the change will provide certainty to landholders and the land court.
"The Palaszczuk government remains committed to delivering resource developments while balancing them with the rights of local communities," he told parliament.
"The right to object goes back through the ages."
Former deputy premier Jeff Seeney led the opposition's charge against the law changes, which he said were drawn up by the "crazy looneys on the left".
He said the Liberal National Party's Regional Interest Planning Act enabled communities to have an influence before decisions on mine projects were made.
"It is a complete and utter nonsense to suggest that you are doing anything to enhance the process or to provide greater opportunities for people," Mr Seeney told parliament.
"What you're doing is enabling these anti-everything groups to frustrate the economic development that Queensland's needs."
Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche warned that environmental groups, rather than landholders, would be able to frustrate the court process more easily.
"This is a deliberate waste of the Land Court's time," he told AAP.
The laws will come into effect later this month.
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