The Queensland Resources Council is trying to do away with the power union-appointed inspectors have to close mines.
It has made a submission to the Queensland government the QRC has asked for that state’s safety regulations to be brought into line with those of New South Wales.
In Queensland the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union nominates three safety inspectors, each of whom can order the closure of a mine over a safety incident.
In NSW that decision is taken by a government-appointed inspector.
If the QRC’s wish comes to pass, it would ensure that safety is not a pretext used to close a mine.
In the past, safety has been used as an excuse to pull on an industrial blue and bring pressure on employers, particularly on construction sites.
This was a way the unions, the CFMEU in particular, used to get around industrial relations laws and try and build up their memberships.
Given the way the CFMEU, in particular, has behaved in Victoria – just look at the chaos it has caused in its dispute with Grocon, taking away safety from them could be considered fair enough.
Grocon also has highlighted the damage the federal government has done to Australia’s productivity when it removed bodies such as the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
Yes, the Supreme Court of Victoria found that the CFMEU had acted illegally in the Grocon dispute.
But what does that mean?
It doesn’t seem to amount to a hill of beans.
It is like the old joke US police officers used to tell about their unarmed British counterparts.
When confronted by a villain all they could do was shout “stop! Or I’ll shout stop again”
The CFMEU could also argue, however, that it has an enviable safety record, particularly in the coal sector.
When compared to China or even the US, that would seem a fair call.
However, NSW has an equally enviable safety record so it would seem fair to assume that bringing the safety regulations into line as the QRC is suggesting would not impact on safety.
Stepping away from the union side, one of the big talking points is the impact the falling iron ore price has had on projects.
BHP Billiton announced it was cutting back its port projects and was followed yesterday by Fortescue Metals Group’s cutback announcement of its own.
While there will no doubt be much moaning, wailing and gnashing of teeth from those affected, that might be drowned by the sound of cheering and high fiving from the neighbouring oil and gas projects.
It is a fair bet that a number of the skills that are being displaced by the mining project slowdowns will be a good fit for the vacancies on those oil and gas projects.
Time will tell.
This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication MiningNews.net.
