Former federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane has again been forced to reject claims of a conflict of interest, as he takes up his new role as chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council.

Protestors dressed as rats lined up outside the council's annual lunch — where Mr Macfarlane formally took over from Michael Roche — to accuse him of breaching ministerial ethics.

Ex-ministers are banned from lobbying for 18 months in relation to their former portfolio.

It is not the first time Mr Macfarlane has been forced to deal with the conflict allegation, but he said he was not lobbying for one particular company.

"I don't take legal advice from people in rat suits, and I certainly don't believe that there is any conflict with the code of practice," he said.

"In fact I have checked and I am totally compliant with the code of conduct for ex-ministers.

"The code is managed by the Prime Minister's office and that's where I sought my advice."

Macfarlane backs cutting charity status of 'activists'

Mr Macfarlane welcomed reports that green groups could lose their charity status if they channelled their donations into political activism.

Former federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane denied any conflict of interest. ( ABC News: Chris O'Brien )

"Activists are not conservationists," he said.

"They're not out there chipping out lantana and clearing weeds from waterways. They're involved in the political fray.

"The fair and transparent thing is for them to have the same (donation) rules as politicians."

Mr Macfarlane said he would use all his contacts — including political ones — in his new role.

"I'm open to using all the connections I have," he said.

"In my phone I have 4,370-something contacts, and that's been built over a lifetime in agripolitics and politics.

"My way of operating is to talk to people quietly and sensibly, rather than go out an attack them in public."

Lynham flags exploration and drilling funding

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham, meanwhile, used the forum to announce half a million dollars for exploration and drilling in the state's north west next year.

Dr Lynham also acknowledged challenges for the resources sector and concerns the industry has had with the Palaszczuk Government's legislative reforms on objection rights, chain of responsibility, fly in, fly out and water licensing.

"Let's put that in perspective: this is simply a restoration of the system of a few year ago," he said.

"The Palaszczuk Government is a job-focused government, but we are also committed to protecting our natural resources and environment.

"All projects have to stack up economically, socially and environmentally, and that's the purpose of proper public scrutiny."

On the restoration of objection rights to mining and resources projects, Dr Lynham said all members of the community should have their say about a proposed developments.

"Stifling objection rights is a policy of the irrational," he said.

"If you want to see objection, then stifling rights is the one iron-clad method to achieve it."

However, he admitted he was concerned cases had gone on too long.

He said that was why the Government had kept laws that allowed the Land Court to strike out any frivolous or vexatious objections.

It was also working on further ways to make the court process more transparent and efficient, he said.