The State Government has introduced a bill to reform mining safety legislation in line with recommendations from the Brady Review of mining fatalities, the Coal Mining Board of Inquiry into the Grosvenor coal mine explosion, and feedback from industry-wide safety resets.

One of the key Resources Safety Act amendments proposed is the implementation of critical controls.

Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said the change would see critical controls incorporated into the safety and health management systems for all coal mines, and mineral mines and quarries.

This would be overseen by the independent regulator Resources Safety and Health Queensland’s audit and inspection program.

Other changes include the introduction of new certificates of competency for the roles of mechanical engineering manager and electrical engineering manager as well as a new certificate of competency to be introduced for surface mine managers.

Mr Stewart said also labour hire workers and agencies would be classed as contractors under the legislation, removing any doubt that health and safety obligations apply to labour hire agencies.

“Safety is my number one priority as the minister and it should be for every mine operator,” he said.

“The resources industry is a key driver of the Queensland economy, creating jobs and delivering a range of benefits for the state including royalties, however, the most important thing to come out of any workplace at the end of each shift is its workers,” he said.

“Our resources industry can only thrive when it has safe and healthy workplaces.

“These changes are important to address recommendations concerning a number of serious incidents that should not happen again in the resources industry.”

Reforms to beef up ‘coexistence framework’

Legislation was also introduced to parliament this week to strengthen the coexistence framework for agriculture and resource industries.

Related: Spotlight on CSG industry impact on farming land

Mr Stewart said the proposed legislation would create a framework that assessed and managed the impact of coal seam gas-induced subsidence on agricultural land, and provided a pathway for landholders to be compensated if required.

Other coexistence reforms include:

• expanding the remit of the Office of Groundwater Impact Assessment (OGIA) to provide independent scientific advice, assessment and development of tools to help manage the impacts of CSG-induced subsidence on agricultural land. 
• expanding the role of the Land Access Ombudsman (LAO) to provide support to stakeholders on a broader range of land access disputes through an alternative dispute resolution pathway.
• the GasFields Commission Queensland (GFCQ) will be given a wider remit and become known as Coexistence Queensland. Its role will be to provide enhanced information, engagement and education services to the community and industry on land access and coexistence issues across the resources and renewable energy sectors.

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