QRC welcomes initial Coal Mining Board of Inquiry report

10 December 2020

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has welcomed the first part of a Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry report into a number of safety incidents on mine sites over the past 18 months, including a serious incident at Anglo American’s Grosvenor mine in May.

QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the proactive decision by Anglo American to go above and beyond current international best-practice safety standards in its comprehensive response to the incident – detailed in a statement released by the company today – demonstrates how important workplace safety is to the company, and more broadly, the industry.

Mr Macfarlane said the QRC would work closely with the Queensland Government to ensure the findings and recommendations from the Board of Inquiry are used to inform and improve the industry’s world-class safety standards.

“The Queensland coal industry is a world leader in safe mining practices for good reason,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Our industry takes safety extremely seriously and will continue to prioritise and advocate for safe work practices, including the use of automated and remote technology in high-risk areas to remove people from the risk of potential harm.

“We will wait for further outcomes from the Board of Inquiry, expected to be released in the New Year.”

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Media contact: Rachel Stewart  0408 130 767 or Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893