CFMEU: Qld mine changes may contain traces of rent-seeking

Queensland’s coal mineworkers should be wary of the Newman Government’s raft of proposed changes to the state’s mine safety legislation given the evidence of lobbying pressure to change regulation in favour of big mining companies, the Miners Union says.

The CFMEU advises members that overall they should be concerned by the Government’s proposals given the attempt to reduce the statutory powers from industry check inspectors – a key inclusion in response to powerful industry lobbying.

Queensland District President Stephen Smyth said the union does not support Minister Cripps assertion that the state’s mining legislation will be improved with the passing of all the proposed changes under the Queensland Mine Safety Framework Regulatory Impact Statement.

“For coal mineworkers the Government’s proposed changes are a mixed bag. The proposal to increase the number of statutory roles is generally supported by the CFMEU,” Mr Smyth said.

“The Union also strongly supports introducing an additional industry check inspector but is strongly opposed to turning them into toothless tigers,” Mr Smyth said.

“The Union is concerned that the inclusion of this proposal is the result of intense industry lobbying from companies that are ideologically opposed to mineworker-elected safety representatives with statutory powers.

“There is no justification for the Government’s proposal to drastically weaken their powers.”

“Furthermore the election of safety reps must be done by those who work at the coal face. This system has been developed over 100 years to ensure that workers themselves have a say in the operation of the safety system covering them.

Mr Smyth said mineworkers should also be deeply concerned by the proposal to weaken the Coal Mine Workers’ Health Scheme.

“Coal mining is a very hazardous industry and workers have fought for and won comprehensive surveillance and monitoring of their workplaces for all health issues, not just those caused by harmful dust and noise. Focusing solely on dust and noise is a major step backwards for this health scheme.

“So overall it’s understandable for mineworkers to be wary of the proposed framework when it proposes to strip away powers of their elected safety rep and provide less monitoring for health risks.”