COAL MINERS DESERVE SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS

One Nation Queensland leader and Member for Buderim Steve Dickson MP said today all coal miners in the State should have world-leading safe working environments.

Mr Dickson said, “It is up to the Government to make sure this happens, and it should immediately adopt the recommendations of the Coal Workers Black Lung Select Committee which was tabled in May.

“One Nation has commended the Committee on its work in this area.”

Mr Dickson said it is a fundamental right that coal miners have a safe working environment. If mine owners are not prepared to meet these standards, they should not be operating in Queensland.

“One Nation is a strong supporter of the State’s coal industry, but the health and safety of workers must be paramount.

“If mine owners need to invest more money to minimise coal dust at their operations, they must do so immediately. I don’t believe that such investment would increase electricity prices.

“The rises in power prices Queenslanders are now being saddled with, have two causes. One is the ALP Government’s reckless push to have 50 percent of our power come from uneconomic renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

“The other was highlighted by the Queensland Economic Advocacy Solutions report this week that said the rising power prices are being driven by the ALP Government’s excessive use of energy companies as cash cows to fund its debts”, Mr Dickson said.