A WA parliamentary question seeks information regarding a BHP Billiton section 45 report, specifically whether it was referred to the State Coroner, if charges are being considered, and if not, why the report cannot be tabled.

AnsweredQoN 946Legislative Council
Asked
17 November 2010
Portfolio
Mines and Petroleum

QuestionView source ↗

BHP BILLITON — SECTION 45 REPORT
I refer the minister to his answer to question without notice 448, dated 7 May 2009, and I draw the minister’s attention to section 91 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, which states — The Minister may cause a report prepared for the purposes of this Act by any inspector to be published at such time and in such manner as the Minister thinks appropriate. (1) Has all or any part of the BHP Billiton section 45 report been referred to the State Coroner for consideration? (2) Is the Department of Mines and Petroleum considering any charge as a result of this section 45 report? (3) If no to (1) and (2), will the minister now table the report? (4) If no to (3), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(2) Is the Department of Mines and Petroleum considering any charge as a result of this section 45 report? (3) If no to (1) and (2), will the minister now table the report? (4) If no to (3), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(3) If no to (1) and (2), will the minister now table the report? (4) If no to (3), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(4) If no to (3), why not? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(1) The section 45 report that I understand the honourable member is referring to was requested by the State Mining Engineer after a series of fatal accidents at BHP Billiton’s Pilbara operations. This report is a technical report on the safety management systems in operation at the Pilbara mine sites of BHPB and it has not formed part of any departmental fatal accident report. No part of it has therefore been submitted to the coroner. (2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(2) DMP is considering bringing charges and these may, in part, be based on the material provided in this section 45 report. (3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(3) No. (4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.
(4) As I have previously stated in this house, a section 45 report is provided to the State Mining Engineer by the company as a result of his use of a coercive power provided under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994. As such, the report cannot be tabled by me or released by any inspector due to the restrictions within the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994.

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