On Wednesday, 22 July 2026 I appeared at estimates hearings for the State Development, Infrastructure and Works Committee. I asked the CEO of Economic Development Queensland about the LNP's Land Activation Program, which provides a direct line for developers to request the sale of public land.
You can read our exchange below or in the official Parliamentary record of proceedings here.
Mr BERKMAN: I have one question for the CEO of Economic Development Queensland.
Mr BLEIJIE: Point of order, Mr Speaker: this is the state development portion of estimates.
Mr BERKMAN: On that point of order—
Mr SPEAKER: We have not heard the question.
Mr BERKMAN: The administrative arrangements order makes clear, as I can tell, that the Economic Development Act is under the state development portion of the minister’s responsibilities.
Mr SPEAKER: Let us hear the question.
Mr BERKMAN: Mr Simmonds, in relation to the Land Activation Program you would be aware that there is a new scheme within this where industry and the public can be suggest state owned land to be sold off. It is referred to in EDQ materials as unsolicited proposals from industry. How many sites have been proposed for consideration under the program by a developer who subsequently purchased it and how many of those instances took place without a market process?
Mr Simmonds: Would you repeat the last part of the question for me because there were multiple parts?
Mr McDONALD: Point of order, Mr Speaker: I listened to the question closely and I really believe that should have been asked in the session on planning. Further to that, I do believe that question contained an imputation that was not appropriate under the standing orders.
Mr BLEIJIE: Point of order, Mr Speaker: we dealt with the Land Activation Program in the previous hour in the planning session. If there was a question to be asked about that it should have been asked in that session.
Mr BERKMAN: On that point of order, page 3 of the administrative arrangements order has economic development, including development and the Economic Development Act, in the same category as industrial development and integrated resort development. This is the state development proportion of the minister’s responsibilities under the administrative arrangements order.
Mr SPEAKER: We will allow it if it is in the responsibility of EDQ.
Mr Simmonds: Thank you, I appreciate that. With the discussion I really will need the question repeated.
Mr BERKMAN: How many sites have been proposed for consideration under the Land Activation Program by a developer who subsequently purchased it? You can start with that bit.
Mr Simmonds: As you know, the Land Activation Program, is a nation-leading program that was announced in February this year. It did include a process by which the public, and that includes industry, local government and others, may submit sites. So far EDQ has received 191 submissions for sites across 23 local government areas. They, of course, have to go through an assessment process because to be eligible for the LAP the site is to be owned by the Queensland government or related entity and is currently underutilised or surplus. The site has to have the potential to deliver or facilitate the delivery of housing, including within mixed use development, and the site requires unlocking or activating by EDQ. I do not try and put forward that all 191 sites that have been submitted have been included in the Land Activation Program simply that they have been submitted and are under assessment.