Protesters have confronted Queensland's Mining Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe to demand that a rejection of an exploration permit for Toowoomba should apply to other areas.
The Queensland government rejected Civil and Mining Resources' application to explore an area that included residential parts of the city, west of Brisbane.
Mr Hinchliffe was in Toowoomba on Wednesday for a mining expo, where around 150 protesters were waiting.
Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said the activists wanted the minister to deal with permits that cover Warwick, Pittsworth and Highfields, all on the Darling Downs.
Mr Hutton said while Mr Hinchliffe had agreed to review the system of exploration permits, he hoped the Bligh government would examine its mining policy.
"Exploration permits currently for mining are granted regardless of what area they're going to," he said.
Mr Hutton said exploration permits could be put over the top of towns or residential estates, environmentally sensitive areas and good agricultural land.
He also called for land owners to have the final say on whether mining companies could enter their properties.
"People power will force the major parties to address these issues," Mr Hutton said.
"Whichever one fails to do so will lose the next state election."
Queensland Party candidate for Toowoomba North, Peter Pyke, said he was disappointed Mr Hinchcliffe didn't address the crowd.
The fledgling party is not against mining, but is concerned where it invades valuable land.
Mr Pyke said the government's decision on the Toowoomba permit was more about protecting its sitting MP.
"What Mr Hinchliffe has done is set a precedent," he said.
"Where there's a Labor MP who might be in trouble and there's an exploration permit which is controversial, and in this case, absolutely ludicrous, he's going to act in the interest of that MP.
"That's a precedent the rest of Queensland can and must exploit."
Mr Hinchliffe's office has been approached for comment.
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