Parliamentary Inquiry to examine safety culture in coal mining industry

Queenslanders will be able to hear from the coal mining industry on their plans for how they will make the coal mining industry safer for workers.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said following discussions with the Transport and Resources Committee they will initiate a Parliamentary Inquiry into how the industry has acted on recommendations from a report into the Grosvenor mine explosion that seriously injured five workers in 2020.

“It is critical that Queenslanders can be confident the resources industry is doing everything it possibly can to ensure the safety and health of the workers they employ which is why an inquiry is important,” Mr Stewart said.

“The Transport and Resources Committee will be asked to conduct an inquiry into what the coal mining industry has done, and plans to do, in response to the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry’s recommendations, to make lasting changes to improve safety culture in the mining industry.

“The most important thing to come off a mine site is its workers, and the Palaszczuk Government will always put the health and safety of Queenslanders first.”

The Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry was established in 2020 to inquire into the underground explosion at Grosvenor mine.

The board made 65 recommendations for improving safety and health to the coal mining industry, Grosvenor Mine, the Miners and Energy Union, Resources Safety and Health Queensland and the Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Committee.

Mr Stewart said resources workers’ families, friends and their communities must be assured their loved ones will come home safe and healthy from every shift.

“I continue to work with the industry through the Queensland Resources Council, to make sure they are addressing the recommendations made by the Board of Inquiry,” he said.

“I’m updated every fortnight by the independent health and safety regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland about the work its doing in response to the Board of Inquiry.

“This Parliamentary Inquiry will allow more information to be gained about what the coal mining industry is doing to reduce harm to workers and hear from other stakeholders.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Lees, 0434 859 940