Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said the concerns of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union related to the Queensland Mines and Quarries Safety Performance and Health Report.
“We’ve had frank discussions around the table. They raised legitimate concerns with me and I took them on board,” Wilson said.
“As a result I’ve asked for an independent review of the report by respected mine safety specialists.”
The Queensland Resources Council today confirmed its support for a revamp of safety reporting at Queensland mines, but rejected claims that the industry is engaged in false reporting.
QRC chief executive Michael Roche said the organisation had written to Wilson two weeks ago, suggesting a transition from current reporting measures to alternatives that are more transparent and better reflect a mine's safety performance.
“The majority of mining organisations operating in Queensland have moved to a more open and transparent method in the recording and reporting of safety performance through the use of Total Recordable Injuries (TRI), a measure which encompasses all recordable injuries,” he said.
“Among other things, initiatives such as these shoot down baseless allegations that mining companies are falsely reporting safety statistics.”
Roche said the QRC remained unswerving in its support for an independent and well-resourced Mines Inspectorate to ensure that Queensland's world-class safety standards are replicated across the industry.
“We have no greater obligation than to ensure the safety of employees,” he said.
