Media | State News

LNP calls for Parliamentary Select committee to investigate Mining deaths

8th July 2019

LNP leader Deb Frecklington today announced she would move for an independent Parliamentary Select Committee to investigate mining safety in light of the spate of recent deaths.

“This committee needs to be set up as soon as possible. One death is way too many but to have four in six months means action needs to be taken,” Ms Frecklington said.

“We need to establish a parliamentary inquiry into the effectiveness of the Queensland Government's mine safety regime.

"The Palaszczuk Labor Government admitted this morning that an advisory committee on Mining Safety was dissolved last year because the board didn’t have the right gender requirements. That needs to be investigated along with reports the mines budget has been cut and why we have gone from two chief inspectors to one.

"It's crucial Queensland learns lessons from these tragedies to ensure our mines are safe.

“It is critical this is a truly bipartisan committee with 3 members of the government, 3 LNP members and a member of the crossbench.”

LNP Shadow Minister for Mines Dale Last said the committee should literally travel to the coal face.

“This committee should travel to mining communities and hear first-hand from those at the coal face,” Mr Last said.

“We need to hear the stories of regional Queenslanders employed in the coal mining industry and their views about the health and safety systems in Queensland.

“Everyone should come home safely from their place of work.”

The committee will be asked to consider the following:

  • (a) Resourcing and operations of the mine safety inspectorate, including the inspectors in regional Queensland.
  • (b) review the legislative framework to ensure it is the most effective in world to protect mine workers.
  • (c) why did the Palaszczuk Government dissolve a Mining Safety Advisory Committee due to the Government’s policy about gender representation and what impact this has had on Queensland mine safety.
  • (d) the circumstances that have led to 6 fatalities in Queensland mines in the last 6 months.
  • (e) the stories of regional Queenslanders employed in the coal mining industry and their views about the health and safety systems in Queensland.