QFF CEO Dan Galligan said this was an important milestone that would path the way for the State’s best farming soils to be protected now and for future generations.

“We welcome the commitment from the Government – and similar policy support from the LNP – that prime farming soils must be protected from permanently destructive activities such as mining and development,” Mr Galligan said.

“Moving forward from now, the real test will be ensuring that SCL is implemented to the full intent of the policy, and that it is done so based on science.

“It has been a difficult process getting the policy to this point, and there has been some disappointment among farmers regarding SCL development over the last two years, but farmers will now be looking to see that SCL lives up to its promise.

“QFF is continuing to work with the government on several levels to ensure that this is the case.”