Weeks after announcing an overhaul of the inspectorate, the Queensland Government has launched a national recruitment drive to attract the staff needed to meet its improved targets.
Queensland Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said current inspectorate staff would be restructured and that $A3 million had been pledged to support incentive packages for mines inspectors.
"This is about bringing on the next generation of mines inspectors and I'm pleased to advise that a team of mining safety and health professionals has now joined the ranks of the Mines Inspectorate," Wilson said.
"Among them, a new chief inspector of coal mines, a manager of safety and health for Central Queensland, and a new mines inspector for Mount Isa.
"Some senior inspector positions have been taken out of head office and transferred to regional Queensland. We're moving officers out from behind their desks and into the field."
Among the 42 changes to be made to the inspectorate is the establishment of a new diploma course for safety and health inspectors, which aims to strengthen inspection services, that will start from next year.
"Mines inspectors now have a career path to match new training opportunities," Wilson said.
"There's a greater focus on team-based, whole of site inspections, on top of what they were already doing."