MINE SAFETY: Petition calling for major probe launched

It follows another incident at a mine site on Sunday

PETITION: There have been calls for a major probe into Queensland's mining industry. Picture: Supplied

AS CALLS for a major probe into mine safety in Queensland gain further momentum, another mining safety issue has come to light.

This time a pedestrian in his 60s was involved in an incident with a light vehicle at BMA's Blackwater mine on Sunday morning.

The incident at a park-up facility resulted in the pedestrian being airlifted to a Rockhampton hospital as a precaution, a BMA spokesman said.

The man was discharged from hospital on Monday morning and the incident is now subject to an internal investigation.

The petition comes in the wake of six mine deaths in 12 months in Queensland, including two less than a month apart.

Former CFMEU official turned whistleblower Stuart Vaccaneo has launched the change.org petition calling for a Royal Commission into mine safety and health in Queensland, which as of Tuesday, had received more than 350 signatures.

"A Royal Commission is the only real hope of identifying the number of cancers eating away at safety and health in the coal mining industry, in particular, and also in the metal mines and quarries in the state of Queensland," Mr Vaccaneo's petition stated.

"The industry is in a safety and health crisis, the reasons are many and varied, and each of us has our opinions."

Shadow Mines Minister Dale Last does not support the call for a Royal Commission, but believes the LNP's push for a bi-partisan Parliamentary Inquiry into mine safety is the answer.

He said the Parliamentary Inquiry would "get off the ground sooner" and be more flexible in its approach to gathering information and evidence than a Royal Commission.

"I've had calls from miners supporting a Parliamentary Inquiry. They see the benefits of having Queensland-based MPs on that committee," Mr Last said.

"This is not something that can be swept under the carpet. If there are issues in mine safety then they need to be identified and addressed.

"My position hasn't changed, I still think a Parliamentary Inquiry is warranted and the government should come on board and support our calls for it."

Mines Minister Anthony Lynham has not indicated support for a Parliamentary Inquiry into mine safety nor a Royal Commission.

Dr Lynham said two expert independent reviews were now underway to identify changes needed to improve health and safety in the state's mines and quarries.

"I also have brought together companies and workers' representatives to re-commit to workers' safety. I obtained a commitment for a statewide safety reset which is now underway," he said.

"I look forward to continuing to work together on reforms to strengthen safety culture in the resources sector - including legislative reforms."

Resources Minister Matt Canavan also declined to state whether or not he supported a Royal Commission, but welcomed the State Government's safety reset during a speech to a mining conference in the Hunter Valley on Monday.

"Any workplace injury or death is alarming and I am greatly concerned by the recent spate of mine deaths," he said.

"All employees should expect to return home safely after their workday - including mining workers."

Originally published as MINE SAFETY: Petition calling for major probe launched