Is drug use among workers rife in the Central Queensland mining industry?

It may not be of “Houston, we’ve got a problem” proportions, but surely Central Queensland’s mining sector is looking at itself in the mirror and asking: “Do we have a drug problem?” Read our report here.

“Does she get drug tested as part of her employment?”

It was a telling question asked by a Central Queensland magistrate in June as more men and women employed in the mining sector faced court for drug offending.

The case where Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale asked the question was that of mine worker Aysha Marie Khachan, 35, who pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on June 22 to two counts of drug-driving - the first offence in February when she had both methamphetamines and cannabis in her system, and the second in April when she returned a positive to cannabis.

While Khachan was represented in court by a solicitor who explained that Khachan worked a “seven on/seven off” roster, it was Khachan herself who responded to Ms Beckinsale’s question by saying: “I do (get drug tested) Your Honour - I have a smoke on my first night off.”

Khachan’s solicitor added: “So what happens is, when she comes off (work)... she then has a smoke on her first day off, and these charges, she’s been subsequently caught with it (drugs) in her system seven or eight days later when she’s on her way back to work essentially.

“So she certainly didn’t feel as though she was under the influence. It’s actually the first time she’s come before the court.”

The concerning reality is that Khachan is far from alone when it comes to Central Queensland mine workers dabbling in drugs and it would be unfair to make an example purely of her when there are many of her industry colleagues being busted for similar offences.

While this publication, or no media outlet for that matter, will ever be able to cover every case of a mine worker facing court on drugs charges, consider these recent matters from the past 12 months which shine a spotlight on a clear problem emerging in the mining sector in this region.

Mining trucks go about their work. (Image/Josh Woning)

JUNE 2022:

Matthew Steven Dawes, 32, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court to possessing cannabis and contravening a police requirement. The plant operator at a Central Queensland mine was caught with what his lawyer described as “probably a very long-term supply” of drugs.

Dawes was fined $800 and no conviction was recorded.

JUNE 2022:

Central Queensland mine worker Jamie Zechariah Asa Taylor, 35, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court to drug-driving after he was caught driving with cannabis in his system on the Dawson Highway at Mount Murchison on February 21. Then just a fortnight later, on June 22, Taylor was again in Biloela Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to another drug-driving charge.

With two previous drug-driving offences on his history in the past five years, Taylor was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for three months.

APRIL 2022:

Police used text messages and records of phone conversations as evidence to convict a Dysart and Moranbah mine worker on drug supply charges. Mark Andrew Fouracre, 41, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on April 6 to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count of possessing a mobile phone used in the commission of a crime.

He was sentenced to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 18 months. Convictions were recorded.

Keenan Mark Peirce.

FEBRUARY 2022:

Rolleston mine worker Keenan Mark Peirce, 19, pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to charges including producing and possessing dangerous drugs. During a search of his unit, police found marijuana, a grow tent and other drug items.

Peirce was convicted and sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $1000. Convictions were recorded.

JANUARY 2022:

Miner Reegan Richard Curtis was busted drug-driving and due to a subsequent driver’s licence disqualification, he had to find an alternative for his drive in, drive out role for five months.

He was fined $600 and was disqualified from driving for five months. A conviction was not recorded.

 JULY 2021:

A young Callide Mine worker with a history of drug offending was given a wake-up call by a magistrate after she was caught drug-driving. Sallie Anne Heid, 25, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court on July 28 to the offence.

Heid was fined $350 and disqualified from driving for one month.

Kieran Pieter Dekker.

JUNE 2021:

Blackwater mine worker Kieran Pieter Dekker, 33, pleaded guilty in Biloela Magistrates Court to supplying and possessing dangerous drugs after police found he ordered marijuana online to be delivered by post.

Dekker was given a six month probation order with a conviction recorded.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale.

A MAGISTRATE’S WARNING

In the case of mine worker Aysha Marie Khachan where Magistrate Beckinsale asked about drug testing as part of her employment, these were Ms Beckinsale’s comments prior to handing down penalty:

“You’ve got to understand that if you use drugs, obviously you’re someone that it (drugs) stays in your system for a long time.

“You can’t afford to do that because if you keep doing this, you’ll keep getting fined and disqualified, and ultimately you could end up in jail.

“So you have to make some better choices about your drug use and methamphetamines - someone with a good job and prospects as you have, why would you go there?

Khachan indicated that she did not know she had ingested methamphetamines, to which Ms Beckinsale replied:

“Well that’s what happens when you’re using illicit drugs, you’re associating with people that are inclined to break the law - you don’t know what you’re ingesting.”

Khachan was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for two months as her licence had already been suspended for three months.

THE FINAL WORD

Drug use is not just a mining industry issue and the wider community is not immune to the scourge on society.

But in a sector like mining where safety is paramount and drug-testing of employees is reportedly done frequently, maybe it’s time Magistrate Beckinsale’s question is asked more often.