Mines minister Stephen Robertson said this will be the third review of the inspectorate since the coroner’s findings into the 1994 disaster at the Moura No 2 coal mine which were severely critical of the then resourcing of the Mines Inspectorate.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) welcomed the review saying the review provided a timely opportunity for all parties to consider whether the operations and effectiveness of the Mines Inspectorate could be further improved.
“The QRC strongly believes that a well funded, well organised and well supported Inspectorate is essential to ongoing safety improvement in Queensland,” said QRC chief executive Susan Johnston.
“Companies themselves have done much to enhance their own approach to safety management, as evidenced by significant reductions in the occurrence and severity of mine accidents.
“To take safety management to the next level we need all parties - companies, mineworkers, and the Mines Inspectorate - to be as committed and as effective as possible.
“Ten years ago, the Coroner was severely critical of the resourcing of the Mines Inspectorate. While much has changed, this independent review will provide us with a chance to reinforce the lessons learnt from the Moura disaster,” Johnston said.
The review will be conducted by Acil Tasman under the direction of a steering committee, to include government, mining industry and union representatives and chaired by former Queensland industrial relations minister Paul Braddy.