Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025

Supported the concept of a dedicated mining coroner but criticised the bill's narrow scope. Called for it to extend to psychological safety, FIFO travel fatalities, and occupational illness deaths.

“It should go beyond the safety of those workers on the mine site; it should go towards the psychological safety of those workers, it should go towards the safety associated with those workers being fatigued as they travel to and from their workplace.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard

Strongly criticises the bill as a broken promise to the mining community. Argues it doesn't establish a real mining warden's court and excludes critical deaths including suicide, travel deaths, and dust lung diseases.

“We see this bill as a broken promise to the mining community of Queensland. There is no mining warden's court, just a renamed coroner with no new powers and a limitation on what the Mining and Resources Coroner should examine.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Moved the second reading and defended the bill as delivering on the government's election commitment to ensure all mining related reportable deaths are thoroughly examined. Argued the bill gets the balance right by establishing a dedicated Mining and Resources Coroner with mandatory inquests.

“This bill ensures the truth and that lessons are learned because that is the moral thing to do.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard

Acknowledged those who lost their lives in mining and supported the bill as important for the industry that is the backbone of North Queensland's economy.

“The Queensland mining and resources industry has been the backbone of our state's economy and prosperity for more than a century.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard

Strongly supports the bill as forward-thinking and necessary reform. Argues it demonstrates commitment to safety, transparency and accountability in the resources sector.

“This bill represents more than a legislative change; it is a strong and clear message to workers, families and industry stakeholders that we are listening and acting.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Criticised the bill as a broken promise that does not go far enough, noting it excludes suicides, road deaths and occupational diseases from the Mining and Resources Coroner's scope. Announced Labor would move amendments to address these gaps but would not oppose additional resources for the coronial system.

“What I cannot understand is why the LNP would create a specialist mining and resources coroner and then legislate that they not consider the psychosocial factors that drive mining related suicides. This narrow definition of safety ignores reality.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard

As a former geologist who was working at Moranbah North mine when a colleague was killed, strongly supported the bill as an important safety reform. Criticised previous government's safety record.

“Every worker deserves to go to work and come home to their families in one piece each and every day.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard

Supports the bill but criticises it as not fulfilling election promises. Strongly advocates for amendments to include dust lung diseases and suicides in the Mining and Resources Coroner's mandatory scope.

“while we support this, and we want to improve it via the member for Gaven's very sensible amendments, it certainly goes nowhere near the promises that were made before the election”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as delivering on a personal commitment made to families of deceased miners. Argued the role is strikingly similar to the former mining warden and will ensure every work-related death on a mine site is subject to a coronial inquiry with mandatory inquests.

“That question—when are our fallen coalminers and their families going to get justice—gets answered today.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill's establishment of mandatory inquests for all mining related reportable deaths, emphasising that safety recommendations must be actioned.

“We do not just implement this bill and walk away; we implement this bill and then we take action on the recommendations that come out of each and every inquest.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard

Strongly supports the bill and is proud it establishes a Mining and Resources Coroner based in Mackay. Argues it delivers on election commitments and provides accountability for mining communities.

“I rise proudly to support the Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025, a bill that delivers on the clear election commitment of the Crisafulli government to restore a vital justice service for Queensland mining communities.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Criticised the bill as a broken promise, arguing the government promised a mining warden's court but instead delivered a limited coroner's role that stops the majority of mining-related deaths being examined. Did not indicate Labor would vote against the bill but strongly criticised its scope.

“It is a bill that gives the coroner a new name and title and a requirement to examine a minority of deaths in the mining industry, but it stops the majority of deaths being examined by this coroner.”— 2025-10-14View Hansard

Supported the bill as restoring accountability in the mining sector, noting mining's importance to Queensland's development as shown on the coat of arms.

“The workers of this industry need to be treated with the highest respect, for it is their blood, sweat and toil that has helped to create wealth of all in this state.”— 2025-10-16View Hansard

Strongly criticises the bill's exclusion of suicide deaths from mandatory inquests. Argues government members don't understand their own legislation and pleads with LNP members to support opposition amendments.

“What is the point of having a dedicated Mining and Resources Coroner if they do not mandatorily investigate every single death on a mine site? That is the point of it.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill as strengthening commitment to safety and accountability in mining. Defends the exclusion of mandatory suicide inquests, arguing the coroner retains discretion to investigate when appropriate.

“I am proud to support the bill, and I am proud to stand as a member of the government that is bringing it forward. I commend the bill to the House.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill but raises significant concerns about exclusions of suicide, road fatalities, and mining-related illness deaths from the coroner's mandatory scope.

“However, we must be honest about the bill's shortcomings, and there are several. These concerns are shared not only by the opposition but also by key industrial stakeholders, legal experts and representatives of the workforce itself.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill, noting personal family connection to the 1921 Mount Mulligan mining disaster. Emphasises the importance of mandatory inquests and continuous safety improvement.

“This bill marks a significant shift in how mining related deaths are handled in Queensland. It introduces a requirement for mandatory inquests into all mining fatalities, removing the coroner's discretion in these cases.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Welcomes the legislation but criticises it as inadequate. Argues suicide, transport deaths, and occupational illness should be included in the Mining and Resources Coroner's scope.

“While this legislation is welcome, it is sadly inadequate. Submissions to the committee from stakeholders emphasise that the bill excludes some critical categories of mining related deaths.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill as relevant to FIFO workers in his electorate. Emphasises the Crisafulli government is delivering on election promises to improve mining safety investigations.

“The Crisafulli government is doing what we said we would do: establishing a dedicated Mining and Resources Coroner who will conduct investigations and inquests for all accidental mining related reportable deaths.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill but raises concerns about exclusion of suicide, road fatalities, and mining-related illness deaths. Notes FIFO workers in her electorate would benefit from broader scope.

“The Labor opposition supports the bill. The changes bring about a much needed position that will go towards improving the safety and wellbeing of mining and resource sector workers, but we will continue to hold the government to account.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports the bill as important for her electorate where one-third of the workforce is connected to mining. Emphasises the importance of accountability and family liaison support.

“I commend this bill to the House.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard

Supports workplace safety improvements but criticises the bill as a missed opportunity due to its narrowed scope. Notes the mines minister's own statements confirm the narrow focus.

“this is a lost opportunity to make a real impact in the mining and resources sector and the missed opportunity has been perpetuated by the black letter of the government's amending bill and the words of its mining minister.”— 2025-10-15View Hansard