Hundreds of workers underground at time of Moranbah mine explosion

As four miners fight for their lives after an explosion at a central Queensland coal facility, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged a state response not seen for almost two decades.

PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged holding a board of inquiry into the horrific mining accident in Moranbah yesterday.

Four miners are today fighting for their lives after a major explosion at Anglo American’s Grosvenor Mine near Moranbah about 3.15pm yesterday – one of the biggest accidents to rock the industry in recent years.

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An inquiry such as the one mooted by Ms Palaszczuk would include public hearings while industry representatives would also take part.

A board of inquiry hasn’t occurred for almost two decades in Queensland.

Yesterday’s accident follows a horror spate of eight deaths in almost two years.

Asked why there hadn’t been a board of inquiry for some years, CFMEU Mining and Energy Queensland district president Stephen Smyth said, “good question”.

“We believe it’s well overdue,” he told The Courier-Mail.

Mr Smyth said the benefit of a board of inquiry was that it was more public.

“(It’s) similar to what used to be with the wardens’ inquiry (prior to 1999),” he said.

“A board of inquiry is about getting to the bottom of what happened.

“People experienced in the industry judging what has happened.”

Ms Palaszczuk this morning expressed her “deep sadness” for yesterday’s accident.

“Today I’ve also asked Dr Lynham (Mines Minister) to actually fly up to Moranbah to meet with the mayor and talk to the community about what has happened there as well,” she said.

“Dr Lynham is also talking to me about the possibility of setting up a board of inquiry into this tragedy.

“I’m taking very seriously the issue of having a board of inquiry, that would involve public hearings.”

Greg Dalliston, who sits on the mining Board of Examiners in Queensland, told The Courier-Mail there should have been a board of inquiry last year in the wake of six deaths in 12 months.

“When we had six fatalities in less than a year, wouldn’t you think if there was power in the legislation they’d do that?” he said.

The relevant minister calls for an inquiry to occur.

Earlier, Mr Smyth told the Today show he got chills thinking how close the accident came to being a catastrophic loss of life.

“I hate to use the word ‘they dodged a bullet’ – the five workers haven’t clearly – but certainly other workers have,” he said.

“It’s just terrible and tragic and our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of these workers.”

Inside Anglo American’s Grosvenor Coal Mine near Moranbah, the scene of a major explosion yesterday. Picture: YouTube

Mr Smyth said the explosion had the potential to kill many people and heavily damage the mine site.

He said an “ignition in the tailgate area” of the mine site caused the explosion.

“We’re led to believe obviously that there was an ignition in the tailgate area … which has propagated an explosion and it’s engulfed the workers in that immediate area,” Mr Smyth said.

“It’s caused some horrific injuries to these workers and at this stage that will be a part of the investigation – to get to the bottom of what has caused this terrible, terrible incident.

“There were literally hundreds working underground yesterday.

“Dayshift is the most popular shift, and with the work going on it could have potentially caused catastrophic loss of life and damage to that mine.”

Injured workers from an explosion at Grosvenor coal mine at Moranbah arriving in Brisbane last night. Picture: Josh Woning

Mr Smyth said it “put chills up your back” thinking about what could’ve happened at the mine site.

He called the incident “totally unacceptable and avoidable”.

“Being an underground coal worker myself, I can just imagine what these poor bastards went through with this particular incident,” he said.

“And then there’s the ripple effect through that mine and the mining communities of Queensland.

“Everyone feels it and everyone thinks about how it could’ve been them and how it could’ve affected their lives.”

Four miners are critical and a fifth is serious after the explosion. Picture: Josh Woning

Anglo American chief executive of its Metallurgical Coal business, Tyler Mitchelson, this morning said an expert technical investigation would begin once it was safe to return underground.

“We will then work with our regulators and other stakeholders to ensure this type of incident never happens again,” he said.

“We are all devastated and we don’t yet understand what caused this incident.

“I would like to sincerely thank the first responders, mines rescue teams and all of the medical personnel involved in helping the injured people.”

Mr Mitchelson said their focus right now was supporting their injured colleagues and their families.

“Our team is doing everything they can to provide support,” he said.

Mr Smyth said workers at the site were shell shocked by the disaster.

Mr Smyth visited Moranbah today and met with miners.

“Quite a lot of people are stressed emotionally, it’s had a massive ripple effect not just at the Grosvenor mine but across the Bowen Basin - it’s hit people like a tonne of bricks,” he told the Courier Mail this afternoon.

The union has backed calls for a board of inquiry into the disaster but said it had to have the “appropriate scope”.

“We think it’s a good idea certainly where there’s been an incident like this with multiple serious injuries but it has to tick off on everything,” he said.

Union safety inspectors are currently at the Grosvenor mine however nobody has yet been allowed to descend into the mine where the explosion occurred.

Mines Minister Anthony Lynham said he was seeking urgent advice from his department, especially the legal team, about establishing a board of inquiry.

“I hope to have those answers either this afternoon or early tomorrow,” he said.

“People of Queensland, people of Moranbah, we want answers to why this event occurred.

“We demand answers and an appropriate investigation will follow.”

Dr Lynham said a board of inquiry was headed by independent commissioners who seek public submissions.

“It’s (an) open inquiry, it’s different to inspectorate looking at an issue.

“It’s been some time ago (since one occurred).”

Dr Lynham said the Government was “throwing the kitchen sink” at the issue of mine safety.