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On 13 February 2024, the Economics and Governance Committee was discharged and responsibility for the inquiry into prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism was transferred to the Community Support and Services Committee. All information about the inquiry, including future information about public consultation activities, will be made available on the Community Support and Services Committee’s inquiry webpage here.    

ABOUT THE INQUIRY

On 18 September 2023, the Economics and Governance Committee resolved to conduct an Inquiry into prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism in Outback Queensland. On 13 February 2024, the Legislative Assembly amended Schedule 6 of the Standing Rules and Orders of the Legislative Assembly, and transferred the Inquiry to the Community Support and Services Committee.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

That the Economics and Governance Committee inquire into and report to the Legislative Assembly on:

• recent developments and initiatives to build prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism in Queensland
• the value of prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism to the Outback Queensland economy
• challenges and opportunities for the further development of the industry into the future.

BACKGROUND TO THE INQUIRY

The Inquiry was established in reference to the committee’s examination of the Emblems of Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Bill) - since enacted as the Emblems of Queensland and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023,  which officially established the Muttaburrasaurus langdoni (The Muttaburrasaurus dinosaur) as the State’s fossil emblem. 

The committee recognised that the establishment of the new fossil emblem represents the latest development in a series of initiatives which have helped build a prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism industry that is now an important contributor to the Outback Queensland economy and employment. Noting this, and the significant paleo resources and characteristics Outback Queensland has to offer (and further opportunities for industry expansion), the committee resolved to inquire into prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism in Outback Queensland while examining the Bill. 

Further information about the committee’s proceedings and site visits for its Inquiry is available below.    

Call for submissions

The committee welcomed submissions addressing the terms of reference of the Inquiry into prehistoric, dinosaur and paleo tourism in Outback Queensland from all interested parties. 

Submissions closed on Wednesday 31 January 2024. 

PUBLIC BRIEFING

The committee held a public briefing on the Bill and Inquiry with departmental officers on Monday 25 September 2023. A transcript of the public briefing is located at the bottom of this page (Inquiry Timeline) and under the Related Publications tab.

PUBLIC HEARINGS, PUBLIC FORUM AND REGIONAL SITE VISITS

Upcoming proceedings - POSTPONED

The committee had formerly planned to hold a public hearing in Quilpie on 26 February 2024, but with the transfer of the committee’s inquiry to the Community Support and Services Committee, this regional consultation has been postponed, to enable that committee time to plan for its continuation of the inquiry and review submitted evidence. 

Previous proceedings

The committee visited Winton and Muttaburra from 3 to 5 October 2023 to conduct site visits and welcome input from local stakeholders in relation to the Bill (particularly its establishment of the Muttaburrasaurus as the fossil emblem) and Inquiry terms of reference. 

The committee held a public hearing in Winton on Wednesday, 4 October 2023 and a public forum in Muttaburra on Thursday, 5 October 2023 at which the committee heard from interested organisations, businesses and community members. 

The committee held a public hearing in Brisbane on Monday, 23 October 2023, at which the committee heard from tourism organisations and palaeontologists.

Transcripts of the proceedings are available at the bottom of this page (Inquiry Timeline) and under the Related Publications tab.  The video broadcast of the hearing in Brisbane on 23 October 2023 is available on Parliament.TV.

Further information

Further information, including any written briefings or advice, correspondence and transcripts can be accessed under the Related Publications tab.

INQUIRY TIMELINE