Death of Brad Huxley at Carborough Downs mine: Mackay court sets hearing date for December

A 57-year-old father was crushed to death while repairing machinery at a CQ mine in 2019 months before an operator was seriously injured. Several people were charged over the incidents.

The case against two senior managers and the company charged over the death of Bowen Basin miner Brad Duxbury will not be heard until December as multiple lawyers push for matters to be moved to Brisbane.

The 57 year old underground electrician was crushed to death by falling coal while repairing machinery at Carborough Downs mine, about 20km east of Moranbah, on November 25, 2019.

The matter was mentioned in Mackay Magistrates Court on Tuesday as multiple defence solicitors requested a one-day hearing be transferred to a Brisbane court to make it more feasible for the 10 legal counsel staff working on the case.

Carborough Downs Mine Management as well as two site senior executives, Jeremy David Futeran and Russell Clive Uhr, were charged with failing to discharge health and safety obligations causing death or grievous bodily harm over Mr Duxbury’s death.

Also mentioned before Magistrate James Morton was the case involving a serious injury to a contractor at the same mine less than three months before Mr Duxbury’s death.

Documents filed at Mackay courthouse and earlier viewed by this publication state underground bord and pillar operator Cameron Best was seriously injured when part of the mine roof fell striking him on the back on September 7, 2019.

Carborough Downs Mine Management, Mr Futeran, Mr Uhr and Bernard Vandeventer were all charged with failing to discharge health and safety obligations causing death or grievous bodily harm over Mr Best.

Gary Roy Jones has also been charged with failing to discharge health and safety obligations over Mr Best.

Mr Morton adjourned both cases until Thursday, August 19, when the court is expected to learn whether the Chief Magistrates Office grants the request for both cases to transfer to Brisbane.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland prosecutor Emily Broadbent said the crown’s position was to go wherever was most convenient for the court.

In the interim, Mr Morton prospectively set a Mackay hearing date for between December 7 and 10.