Pat Weir, Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
“The LNP called for a parliamentary inquiry into mine safety because there is a desperate need to get to the bottom of what is causing deaths and injuries. While that inquiry did not happen, this Board of Inquiry has uncovered many issues that show our calls were justified.
“Resource companies and the government must put worker safety first. One way to do that is to implement the recommendations as soon as possible and for the government to ensure, the recommendations are implemented.
“I am more than happy to work with the Natural Resources Minister to ensure the response to this report is timely and the steps we need to take to make Queensland’s mines safer are implemented properly. It is the right thing to do and it is the least we can do for Queensland’s mine workers.”
Dale Last, Member for Burdekin and Shadow Minister for Regional & Rural Affairs
“As we saw in the interim report the then-Minister tried to keep private, there is a considerable amount of work for the government to do but there is also work for the resources companies as well.
“My electorate covers a large part of the Bowen Basin and I want to see both the government and the industry not only accept, but embrace, these recommendations.
“I want to see the recommendations implemented fully as soon as possible.
“There is more to come from this inquiry and any necessary changes to legislation or regulation that is needed to implement the recommendations must be drafted and put before parliament as soon as possible because that is what the workers of Queensland’s mines deserve.”
