❓ Mr. Johnston questions the Minister for Mines and Petroleum on why mine deaths are not considered a significant issue in budget papers, despite recent fatalities. The Minister responds, emphasizing safety as a top priority and expressing concern over the deaths.
AnsweredQoN 428Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF MINES AND PETROLEUM — MINE SITE FATALITIES
428. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I note for the second year in a row that the minister has not
included mine deaths as a significant issue impacting the Department of Mines
and Petroleum in budget paper No 2.
(1) Why is the profitability of industry a significant issue
impacting the DMP but not mine deaths?
(2) Why is the investment in the industry a significant issue
impacting the DMP but not mine deaths?
(3) Noting
that there have been three mine deaths this year, including two last week, how
many more Western Australians need to be killed in mining before the minister
decides it is a significant issue?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! No more comments.
OF MINES AND PETROLEUM — MINE SITE FATALITIES
428. Mr W.J. JOHNSTON to the
Minister for Mines and Petroleum:
I note for the second year in a row that the minister has not
included mine deaths as a significant issue impacting the Department of Mines
and Petroleum in budget paper No 2.
(1) Why is the profitability of industry a significant issue
impacting the DMP but not mine deaths?
(2) Why is the investment in the industry a significant issue
impacting the DMP but not mine deaths?
(3) Noting
that there have been three mine deaths this year, including two last week, how
many more Western Australians need to be killed in mining before the minister
decides it is a significant issue?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! No more comments.
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I thank the member for Cannington for the question. I must say this question is
a bit in poor taste, particularly considering that there have been two
fatalities in the last week. Everybody in Western Australia, not only our
government but everybody, and that includes people on the member's
side, is concerned whenever there is a death or fatality in any industry, let
alone mining. The mining industry knows that it is my number one priority; I
make a big point of it every time I meet with it. If there is a mining fatality
on a site, I usually call in the managing director and the president of the
company. That is what we will continue to do. We need to actually foster a
culture of safety in the industry. Obviously, it is a major concern to all
Western Australians if anyone is injured or killed on a site and in other
construction activities as well. Any death, even road fatalities, concerns
everybody and as the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, it is my number one
priority.
I thank the member for Cannington for the question. I must say this question is
a bit in poor taste, particularly considering that there have been two
fatalities in the last week. Everybody in Western Australia, not only our
government but everybody, and that includes people on the member's
side, is concerned whenever there is a death or fatality in any industry, let
alone mining. The mining industry knows that it is my number one priority; I
make a big point of it every time I meet with it. If there is a mining fatality
on a site, I usually call in the managing director and the president of the
company. That is what we will continue to do. We need to actually foster a
culture of safety in the industry. Obviously, it is a major concern to all
Western Australians if anyone is injured or killed on a site and in other
construction activities as well. Any death, even road fatalities, concerns
everybody and as the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, it is my number one
priority.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.