Mining Safety and RSPT High on the Agenda

By Joel ScanlonJun 30 2010

A spate of mining accidents occurring globally in the last six months, have brought the need for change in safety laws to the forefront of the industry in Australia. The mining union wishes to see that that the miners worker in and around the pits are provided with the best equipment possible.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) was reacting to the injury of two men in the North Goonyella mine near Moranbah in central Queensland. The CFMEU spokesman Steve Smyth felt that the accident was very similar to the one in 2007 which killed local miner Jason Blee.

On the other hand the mining industry is still stuck over its negotiations with the federal government over the Resources Super Profits Tax. The Association of Mining & Exploration Companies (AMEC) has warned about restarting its anti-tax advertising campaign soon if a deal isn’t done with the government quickly.

AMEC chief executive Simon Bennison told ABC Radio that the uncertainly over the tax had left many companies trying to finance perfectly viable projects but not getting investments from banks and financial institutions as they economic climate is uncertain due to the mining tax speculations.