History of the fight to protect the Channel Country

1996

Graziers, conservationists, and scientists unite to reject plans for new cotton development in the free-flowing Cooper Creek catchment

2010

Australian Floodplain Association supports creation of Western Rivers Alliance

2010

Amendments to Wild Rivers Act passed to incorporate Lake Eyre Basin rivers

2014

Newman LNP Government repeals Wild Rivers Act

2015

Palaszczuk makes pre-election Labor commitment to reinstate protections for Channel Country

2017

Palaszczuk re-affirms election commitment to protect Channel Country 

2019

The Lake Eyre Basin Traditional Owners’ Alliance – including representatives of 13 Traditional Owner groups from across the Lake Eyre Basin – is formed

2020

Independent scientific panel commissioned by the Queensland government recommends a ban on fracking in the environmentally sensitive Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre basin 

2022

Pegasus economic review finds expansion of fracking in the Lake Eyre basin would be high cost, and high emissions unconventional gas could rapidly create stranded assets 

June 2023

Origin Energy surrender of 10 of 11 production leases held in the area, amid concerns about the impact of potential fracking plans on its unique waterways and floodplains

June 2023

Queensland Government announces public consultation on protection methods for Channel Country region

August 2023

22,000 public submissions to Government consultation call for full protection

December 2023

Premier Steven Miles announced the Queensland Government’s decision to ban future oil and gas mining on the rivers and floodplains.