'This should have been avoided': union's stern warning after Ballarat mine collapse

Australian Community Media

A spokesperson for the Australian Worker's Union has accused Ballarat Gold Mine of unsafe work practices after one miner was killed and another critically injured in a rockfall at the mine on Wednesday, 13th March 2024.

Transcript

00:00 Two workers that were earlagging, which is a manual style of mining.

00:09 It's our understanding that they were working under unsupported ground and that ground gave way.

00:17 Trapping both miners and killing one.

00:24 This is absolutely devastating news.

00:29 It's devastating because yet we've lost another worker and no worker should be injured or die at work.

00:41 But it's even more devastating because this should have been avoided.

00:46 They should not have been doing that task in that mine.

00:50 We are going to be pushing very hard to make sure that the industrial manslaughter laws are used.

00:59 Since industrial manslaughter laws have come in, we've had 169 Victorians killed at work.

01:09 This year we've had 12 Victorians killed at work.

01:14 And in the time since these laws have come in, we've had one prosecution and no jail time.

01:20 This is not acceptable.

01:22 There is no point creating laws to protect workers if we don't use those laws.

01:28 Our members are angry.

01:31 Our organisers are angry.

01:35 We would like to thank the rescue service for the work that they did.

01:42 We want to make sure that we are putting the Victorian government on notice

01:52 to let them know that you create these laws, you make sure you use these laws.

01:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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