Royalties & Rents

Mining and petroleum royalties

A royalty represents a payment to the state for the right of use of the state's mineral and petroleum resources. Generally royalty is payable when mineral or petroleum is sold, disposed of or used.

Royalty reviews

Queensland Mines and Energy (QME) regularly examines the royalty regimes applying to the various commodities mined in Queensland to ensure they are still appropriate under present and prospective industry conditions.

QME has released an industry consultation paper on Metalliferous Royalties. The paper builds on announced changes to the base and precious metals royalty system which are to take effect from 1 January 2011 and essentially deals with possible amendments to the associated metal prices tables.

The changes relate to variable royalty rates for cobalt, copper, gold, lead, nickel, silver and zinc.

Written submissions to the options contained in the paper close on 28 August 2009.

Download the Metalliferous Royalties Industry Consultation Paper 2009 (PDF, 100kB)

Electronic lodgement

Electronic lodgement of a completed Royalty Return form may be made by attaching the return and sending to the following email address: Electronic lodgement

Rents on mining and petroleum tenements

Rent on mining leases, mining claims, mineral development licences and all petroleum tenures is payable in advance by 31 August for the rental year commencing from 1 September. Other mineral and geothermal tenure rentals (e.g. exploration permits) are payable by the anniversary date of the tenure.

More information on Rents on mining and petroleum tenements.