Mineral and Energy Resources and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2020

Confirmed the opposition would support the bill. Raised concerns about the process for deeming suitable operators for abandoned mines but supported the intent to improve mine rehabilitation and worker safety.

“The opposition will be supporting the bill.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

As Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy, introduced the bill and outlined its three key reform areas: introducing industrial manslaughter offences into resources safety legislation, strengthening mine rehabilitation and financial assurance frameworks, and improving regulatory efficiency. Accepted all nine committee recommendations.

“This bill makes industrial manslaughter an offence in mines just as it is already in other Queensland workplaces. No matter where they work, Queenslanders deserve to return home safely and be equally protected by our state's laws.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill, particularly the industrial manslaughter provisions, the requirement for statutory office holders to be permanent employees, and the mine rehabilitation provisions. Drew parallels with healthcare worker safety during COVID-19.

“I believe that these provisions are critical, they are necessary and they will save lives.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

As shadow minister for natural resources and mines, announced the LNP would not oppose the bill but raised serious concerns. Criticised the minister for declining inspections, failure to implement Black lung white lies recommendations, and the lack of consultation on the statutory office holder requirement. Questioned the justification for requiring SSEs to be direct employees based on only 22 out of 52,000 workers raising it at safety resets.

“Do my constituents and every other person who works in mines and quarries deserve safer workplaces? Of course they do. I know that and the LNP knows that. Should people who contribute to the death of a worker in any way be held to account? Of course they should be.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Voiced strong support for the bill, emphasising the importance of extending industrial manslaughter provisions to the mining sector. Reflected on visiting miners' memorials at Moranbah and Moura and her previous work as an employment lawyer representing miners.

“Mining workers deserve the same protections that other workers in all Queensland workplaces have already under the Palaszczuk government, no thanks to those opposite.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

As committee chair, strongly supported the bill. Described the powerful impact of informal testimony from mine workers at Moranbah who were afraid to raise safety concerns due to fear of reprisals, including workers who quietly sought out committee members at airports. Emphasised the importance of countering reprisals for calling out safety issues.

“What had a great impact on me was the men and women who talked quietly to us afterwards and even sought me out in the airports on the way home—and I do mean quietly because they did not want to be overheard.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Acknowledged the importance of mine safety but raised significant concerns about the broad and unclear definition of 'senior management' in the industrial manslaughter provisions and the practical difficulties of requiring statutory office holders to be direct employees rather than contractors.

“The objective here is safety at the mine site. To exclude a class of person who already is in short supply... will mean that a great deal of experience in safety and other areas will be lost.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

As a committee member, stated the LNP was not opposing the bill but raised concerns about the industrial manslaughter provisions capturing operational workers beyond senior corporate officers, and the lack of consultation on requiring statutory office holders to be direct employees when only 22 of 52,000 workers raised it at safety resets.

“Worker safety is paramount and the LNP treats this issue very seriously. We support any constructive and workable measures to improve workplace safety. Unfortunately, this bill is more about being seen to do something than working and consulting with the entire industry.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as Minister for Industrial Relations, emphasising her pride in the Palaszczuk government introducing industrial manslaughter provisions in 2017 and now extending them to the mining sector. Accused the LNP of opposing industrial manslaughter and warned they would remove the laws if returned to government.

“Beware, Queenslanders. Beware, miners. Those opposite say, 'Oh, no, we're not going to oppose the bill,' but I have not heard much from them about supporting it.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

Drew on Ipswich's deep mining heritage and family connections to the mining industry to support the bill. Detailed the history of mining disasters including the Box Flat mine disaster that killed 18 men, and emphasised the government's obligation to ensure safe work environments.

“It is an obligation of all governments, particularly Labor governments, to make laws that ensure a safe work environment for our workers and that they safely return home to their families at the end of their working day.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Supported the industrial manslaughter provisions but opposed the bill overall due to changes to statutory office holder roles, accusing the government of not being serious about mine safety and failing to implement black lung report recommendations. Criticised the government for not moving the Mines Inspectorate to Mackay.

“Coalminers and their families are being treated with contempt. This government is not serious about mine safety. They are only interested in mine royalties—yes, the money, the dollars, the dosh.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

Stated the LNP would not oppose the bill but raised significant concerns including that the industrial manslaughter provisions may create a culture of non-reporting, the requirement for statutory position holders to be direct employees lacked evidence and was driven by the CFMMEU, and the bill was more about headlines than addressing underlying safety issues.

“I contend that the minister's amendment does nothing to remediate the concerns expressed by many during the committee process. All it does is push the issue out 18 months down the road.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Acknowledged worker safety as paramount but raised concerns about the broad definition of 'senior officer' in industrial manslaughter provisions, the lack of consultation on statutory office holder changes, and the Queensland Law Society's opposition to the provisions. Did not explicitly state support or opposition.

“Whilst every effort must be made to protect workers and improve workplace safety, particularly in the resources industry, it is overwhelmingly apparent that the Palaszczuk state Labor government has once again taken a simplistic approach to industrial reform.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

Spoke from her community's direct connection to the mining industry, emphasising the impact of mining accidents on communities like Moranbah. Supported the requirement for statutory office holders to be direct employees, arguing contractors lack job security to speak up about safety issues.

“For those who are contract workers there is no certainty. We need safety officers in secure work who are tied to their employer.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Spoke in support of the bill, emphasising the importance of mine safety and the introduction of tough industrial manslaughter laws. Paid tribute to victims of the Grosvenor mine explosion and Moura mine disasters and defended the government's record on mine inspector numbers.

“This bill will introduce tough new laws under which mining executives could face up to 20 years imprisonment and fines of up to $13 million if found guilty of criminal negligence.”— 2020-05-20View Hansard

As a Bowen Basin MP, expressed relief the bill had finally come before the House but frustration it took so long while eight workers died. Supported industrial manslaughter in principle but criticised the requirement for SSEs to be direct employees as fundamentally imposing a more rigid workforce model for no safety benefit. Called for a bipartisan parliamentary select committee inquiry.

“While I am very alert to the defects in this bill, the LNP will not be opposing it in the interests of mining safety. Mine safety must always come first when it comes to our mining industry.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Drew on his connections to the mining industry through Townsville as a fly-in fly-out hub and his visits to mine sites. Emphasised the Brady review's finding that many fatalities were preventable through basic controls, training and supervision, and supported both the industrial manslaughter provisions and statutory office holder requirements.

“I am not prepared to accept one death, let alone an average of 12 deaths over the next five years, in the mining industry. This House will do everything it can to ensure that we do not lose any more miners.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Drew on his experience as a committee member investigating black lung disease and labour hire practices, and his representation of coalmining communities. Supported the bill's safety improvements, noting the ongoing culture of fear around reporting safety issues and acknowledging the CFMMEU's work on safety.

“I am surprised that it is the year 2020 and the culture that frightens people to speak out about safety still exists this day.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

As Minister for Regional Development and a former maintenance superintendent at Queensland Alumina, supported the bill from personal experience managing worker safety in industrial settings. Emphasised the bill's introduction of industrial manslaughter offences and requirement for statutory office holders to be direct employees.

“Jobs in the resources sector are spread throughout Queensland, particularly in the regions that I support and live in. The workers who do these jobs are the lifeblood of regional communities.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

As a committee member with family members working in coalmines, raised serious concerns about the committee process and the lack of consultation on the statutory office holder requirement. Strongly criticised the minister's competence, noting eight deaths under his watch and declining inspections and compliance actions.

“There is nowhere for this minister to hide. His incompetence is on the public record. We have seen more deaths under this minister's watch than we have had in this state from coronavirus.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard

Drew on his Cornish mining ancestry to support the bill, arguing the industrial manslaughter provisions send a clear signal that ignoring safety is a criminal offence. Expressed concern that the LNP's criticisms indicate they would repeal the reforms if returned to government.

“I hope that the industrial manslaughter provisions will be discussed very seriously amongst senior mine officers and will make the safety of our workers the primary goal of their operation.”— 2020-05-19View Hansard