Australia's longest-serving federal resources minister, Ian Macfarlane, has rejected suggestions of a conflict of interest after taking up a job with Queensland's peak mining group.

Key points: Ian Macfarlane is named as chief executive of Queensland Resources Council

Ian Macfarlane is named as chief executive of Queensland Resources Council Ministers have restrictions within first 18 months of leaving frontbench

Ministers have restrictions within first 18 months of leaving frontbench Mr Macfarlane says he has cleared new job with appropriate people in PM's office

Mr Macfarlane has been named as the new chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), and will officially start in November.

He was most recently the industry minister before being demoted last September when Malcolm Turnbull ousted Tony Abbott as prime minister.

The Member for Groom first tried to defect to the Nationals and salvage a frontbench presence but eventually resigned from Parliament.

According to the Coalition's Statement of Ministerial Standards, ministers have a number of work-related restrictions within the first 18 months of departing the frontbench.

"They will not lobby, advocate, or have business meetings with members of the Government, Parliament, Public Service or Defence Force on any matters on which they have had official dealings as a minister within the last 18 months," the statement says.

Labor and the Greens have raised concerns about the appointment, but Mr Macfarlane has told the ABC he cleared the new job with the appropriate people in the Prime Minister's office and is confident he is not in breach of the agreement.

"They see no issue," he said.

"QRC is not a registered lobbying organisation, it's a representative body and I will comply with the code.

"The reality is that QRC is a state-based organisation and I was a federal minister. That means I will be able to comply with the code."

Mr Macfarlane said he wanted to use the new role to drive jobs growth in the resources sector.

"I obviously want to ensure that the resource industry maintains its social licence and its community licence and works within the guidelines laid down by governments in relation to environmental conduct," he added.

"It is about ensuring that we set the highest standards."

Labor, Greens question Macfarlane job

Labor frontbencher Mark Dreyfus said the decision to take the mining job so soon after leaving Parliament was an issue.

"I think that there's always an issue about former ministers taking up jobs very soon after they've ceased to hold those positions as ministers in a similar industry," he said.

"It raises concerns about the way they may have conducted themselves while they were ministers."

Greens resources spokeswoman Larissa Waters said the appointment was a "disgrace".

"Our politics have been hijacked by big polluters, and this is just the most recent example," she said.

"Australians are sick to death of the revolving door between politics, big business and big polluters.

"The mining industry and big polluters stalk the halls of power and they're set to receive $24 billion in fossil fuel subsides in the next four years. Ordinary Australians can never hope for that level of access."

QRC welcomes minister with 'prodigious knowledge'

QRC said Mr Macfarlane had a "prodigious knowledge of the resources sector, keen policy instincts and great advocacy skills".

"He has the respect of the resources sector, as well as all sides of the political spectrum," it said in a statement.

QRC said Mr Macfarlane's record was "remarkable" and built on delivering "better living standards for all Australians".

Earlier this year, Mr Abbott paid tribute to Mr Macfarlane's former role as resources minister, in particular dismantling Labor's mining tax.

"It was a magnificent achievement by the Member for Groom in his time as minister," Mr Abbott told Parliament.

"I hope that the sector will acknowledge and demonstrate their gratitude to him in his years of retirement from this place."