Parliament supports jail for bosses on mine deaths

Australia’s toughest mine safety laws passed in Queensland Parliament today with executives facing up to 20 years’ jail if Queensland mine and quarry workers die because of their criminal negligence.

Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said establishing industrial manslaughter as an offence in mines and quarries was another key reform by the Palaszczuk Government to protect the state’s 50,000 mine and quarry workers.

“This offence sends the clear message to employers and senior officers that the safety and health of their workers is paramount,” Dr Lynham said.

“In the past two years we’ve had eight workers die, and a gas explosion in an underground coal mine has put five miners in hospital.

“It’s not acceptable.

“Safety on a mine site is everybody’s responsibility.

“But a safety culture needs to be modelled right from the top and creating the offence of industrial manslaughter is to ensure senior company officers do all they can to create a safe mine site.