Australian Workers’ Union welcomes mine safety response

 “AWU members and officials still feel the raw pain of Tasmanian mine tragedies,” Ian Wakefield, AWU Tasmania Secretary, said today.

The union welcomes the Government's response to the Coronial findings in relation to both the Renison and Beaconsfield fatalities.

 “We hope that the new measures will play a role in minimising the future exposure of workers to unnecessary hazards and their families to the traumatic consequences of workplace accidents and fatalities,” Ian Wakefield said.

“Our families want to know that when their loved one goes to work they will return home safely.”

The AWU has a long history of pursuing State Governments to improve mine safety standards. “The AWU will constantly fight for better, safer workplace standards – as we’ve been doing here for years in Tasmania.”

Mr. Wakefield said union members will be particularly happy that the new mine health and safety standards actually guarantees workers a voice – a right to be heard in the mine’s health and safety operations.

“A voice at work has been a key demand of our union, as we campaigned for new mine health and safety standards.

“We’ve waited for this legislation for a long time. Our view is that it will set new national mine safety standards,” Ian Wakefield said.

“The Minister for Workplace Relations, Mr David O’Byrne, should be congratulated for making this issue a priority from the moment he became a Minister earlier this year.

“We’re happy that alongside of the new legislation he is bringing in more detailed mine safety regulations which support the provisions, which will now be enshrined in law.

“He has assured us that this law and the new regulations will come into place early in 2011.”

Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Safe to Work