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- 26 June 2002
Mount Kembla Mining Disaster Centenary Commemoration
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Page: 3848
Urgent Motion
Mr MARKHAM (Wollongong—Parliamentary Secretary) [3.50 p.m.]: I move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the dangerous nature of coalmining in New South Wales;
(2) applauds the State Government for its efforts to improve mine safety;
(3) supports the 100-year commemoration of the Mount Kembla mining disaster in which 96 men and boys perished on 31 July 1902; and
(4) congratulates the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Centenary Commemoration Committee on their efforts and the week-long program of events from 31 July until 4 August.
The one-hundredth anniversary of the Mount Kembla mine disaster in which 96 men and boys were killed will occur at 2.00 p.m. on 31 July this year. It was the worst mining disaster in Australian history. At around 2.00 p.m. on 31 July 1902 a large volume of flame and smoke was seen to burst from the main tunnel of the Mount Kembla colliery near Wollongong. A massive explosion in the mine resulted in the tragic loss of 96 lives and many serious injuries. A royal commission was set up to investigate the disaster. The cause of the explosion was found to be the ignition of firedamp or methane gas supplying a miner's light. The explosion generated a coal dust explosion that wrecked a large portion of the mine. The recommendations of the royal commission included more testing for gas, improvements in ventilation and shot-firing practices, and the use of safety lamps where gas was present. The miner's safety lamp has now been replaced by modern, electric lamps and other safety equipment.
Twenty-eight members of the Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Centenary Committee have spent more than a year organising the commemoration of the event that rocked the suburb 100 years ago. The aim of the commemoration is to involve the community and recreate that period in 1902. At 2.00 p.m. on 31 July sirens will sound throughout the village, telegram boys will whiz down the main road on bikes, people dressed in period costume will take horse-and-cart rides around the village and pub goers will play iron quoits. A church service will be held at the Mount Kembla Soldiers and Miners Memorial Anglican Church, and the scene will be complete with a smithy's shop, a wood-fired bakery and a maypole dancing exhibition.
The members of the centenary commemoration committee include Liz Roberts and Chris Powis—the two women who have done most of the work—Neville Kirkwood, Tony and Tess Pollard, Andrew Stevenson, Lizzie and Brad Williams, Paul Mack, Brian O'Keefe, Jenny Doyle, Robbie Cheadle and Cate Stevenson, who is the secretary of the committee. Some years ago Wendy Richardson, another member of the committee, wrote a play called Windy Gully in memory of what happened at Mount Kembla on that tragic day. Other members of the committee include Phil Donaldson, Peter Houwelling, Peter Hutton, Greg Costello, Joan Reczek, Clare Curtis, Carol and John Herben, Glenn Barkley, Geoff Callaway, Chris Ryman, the treasurer, Mark Hayes, Alison Rowe and George Theophanou.
The committee has worked for 12 months to bring this part of Mount Kembla's history to the notice of the whole of the country. A Mount Kembla identity, 93-year-old Fred Kirkwood, knows where almost every victim of the 1902 Mount Kembla disaster is buried. For the past 70 years Mr Kirkwood, with members of his family, has kept a close eye on many of the graves of the 96 men and boys who died in the explosion. For the past 67 years Mr Kirkwood has been the rector-warden at the Mount Kembla Soldiers and Miners Memorial Anglican Church where 38 victims are buried. A miner for 46 years, Fred was born in 1909, seven years after the disaster. He has lived at Mount Kembla all of his life.
The Mount Kembla mine opened in 1882, and Fred started work there in 1923 at the age of 14. Fred was elected Secretary of the Mount Kembla Miners Lodge in 1939 at the age of 30, a position he held unchallenged until 1958. Fred retired from the Mount Kembla mine in 1969, aged 60. He is the best-known identity in the village. A road has been named after him, and three of his sons followed in his footsteps and became miners. Mr Kirkwood and his family members regularly tended to and mowed grass around the graves at the Mount Kembla church. Weekend detention offenders, under the supervision of Corrective Services officers, now do that job. Sadly, because of the ravages of time, many inscriptions on the graves at the church in nearby Windy Gully are difficult to read.
The mining division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [CFMEU] has come to the rescue by allocating $13,000 from the special trust fund to cover the maintenance of those graves. The secretary of the mining division of the CFMEU in the Illawarra, Bob Mitchell, presented a cheque for that amount to the committee. The Government also came to the party with a grant of $19,250 to assist with restoration work. The Premier, Bob Carr, visited Windy Gully at Mount Kembla on Friday last week. He was very impressed by the work the community and the committee have done to commemorate this tragic event. Fred is particularly concerned about the condition of some grave monuments in Windy Gully that were difficult to locate. He recalled that those graves included the graves of four brothers who died in the explosion.
Mr Kirkwood's father, George, survived the disaster after managing to escape through the tunnel some distance from the scene of the explosion. He was lucky. They would not let any of the survivors go back into the mine to help look for others. We have to remember that there have been some horrific mining disasters in this country. The southern coalfields in the Illawarra have probably suffered more than most. On 23 March 1887, 115 years ago, a gas explosion at the Bulli mine resulted in the death of 81 men and boys. Only 23 years ago, on 24 July, 14 men were killed in a gas explosion in the Appin colliery that ripped the guts out of that mine.
The Bulli mine disaster has been commemorated every year for many years. During the memorial service, the names of miners who have been killed at work are dedicated in the Memorial Wall. More than 600 names of southern district miners appear on the wall—that is 600 men and boys who have lost their lives in the mining industry on the South Coast since mining started at Mount Keira in 1849. The memorial service is an opportunity to reflect on how dangerous the mining industry was and still is. Even though governments have considered, and continue to consider, how to make mining safer, there is only one way to ensure that people's lives are protected: each individual must trust his own judgment about what is and what is not safe. You get only one chance. If miners are not prepared to back themselves against outside pressures, other disasters might follow.
An original miner's cottage at Bulli provides an authentic step back in history. It contains authentic mining equipment straight from the pages of a history book. The original miner's cottage has been preserved as a museum for exhibitions and educational visits. I was disappointed that the House divided on the question of whether this motion should be debated today. It is up to us as public office holders and representatives of communities throughout the State to acknowledge that the worst mining disaster in the history of this country occurred 100 years ago next month. When we remember the number of people who have died throughout the State since the beginning of the mining industry, it is important that we recognise what happened on that terrible day, 31 July. We should also remember that people have been willing to give their time to ensure that history is recorded and, out of respect for the men and boys who lost their lives in the country's worst mining disaster, the names on their headstones are reconfigured to their former glory.
Mr J. H. TURNER (Myall Lakes—Deputy Leader of the National Party) [4.00 p.m.]: The Opposition notes the comments of the honourable member for Wollongong. We join him in supporting the commemoration of the Mount Kembla mining disaster. There can be no more dangerous occupation than coalmining, particularly in the periods spoken about by the honourable member for Wollongong. I was born and raised in Cessnock in the northern coalfields. Although I was not the son of a coalminer, I went to school with many sons of coalminers, and my family had many friends who were involved in the coalmining industry. I remember the angst people had as their loved ones went off to work in the mines. Now there are about 15,000 coalminers. I do not know how many there were back in those days. When the mine siren sounded at times other than the normal knock-off times people had their hearts in their mouths because it usually indicated a serious accident or death in the mine. The siren could be heard right through the town.
The Bellbird mine disaster occurred near where I lived. I cannot remember the date but about 25 miners perished in that disaster in horrific conditions. Indeed, the mine is still sealed and to the best of my knowledge is still burning all these many years later. Regrettably, recently there was the Gretley mine disaster in which four miners were drowned. That again brought home the incredible dangers of mining. There have been some improvements but more remains to be done. This House will shortly debate a bill about mine safety. The honourable member for Wollongong referred to the centenary commemoration of the Mount Kembla disaster and other memorials in southern areas. Mick Frame, a Labor identity in the northern area, was a driving force for the establishment of the memorial at Freemans Waterhole, where ceremonies commemorate the loss in the mining industry at that place. At the National Party conference only a week or so ago at Broken Hill the Line of Lode Memorial sits on the slag heap as a constant reminder to the people and visitors of Broken Hill that about 830 lives have been lost in that area—a horrific figure. There were many mines in the area but most of those lives were lost in the one mine.
The Mayor of Broken Hill paid tribute to Tim Fischer, who, as Deputy Prime Minister, arranged for funding of about $5.5 million for the Line of Lode Memorial. That imposing structure is a fitting memorial to honour the men killed in mining in that part of the State. Although we would hope not to have to pay out any more money for mine memorials in future as we would not want any further people lose their lives in mines, inevitably and regrettably the nature of mining is such that there will be further deaths. We can only hope to limit those deaths and ensure that the best practices are put into place. The honourable member for Wollongong referred to the need for miners to take individual responsibility and make a judgment call. Whilst I agree with that, it has always been the view of the Opposition that there must be responsibility from the mine wall to the boardroom. Indeed, when I was shadow Minister for Mineral Resources that formed part of my policy for the last election. Boardroom decisions can often impact on the mine wall.
The death rate in mining is reducing in Australia. As shadow Minister I took the view that we should transfer the lessons we have learned to less developed countries. For instance, I understand that about 13,000 miners are killed each year in mining accidents in China. In 2002 that is totally unacceptable by any standard. We have a responsibility to assist countries that do not have the expertise that we presently have. Mining is international: a miner will relate to a miner anywhere in the world. It is a special brotherhood. I digress slightly to mention a memorial that was two paddocks across from where I used to live, the memorial for the Rothbury riots. I referred to responsibility from the mine wall to the boardroom. The miners took a stand against the barons of the coal industry. In that alleged riot—some would say that it was not necessarily a riot; the miners were probably participating in their demonstration very vigorously—a miner was killed.
That was an example of the rough and tumble of the mining lifestyle in those days. Things have moved on considerably. There are now drag lines and modern technology. But people still go underground each day, taking their lives in their hands, to produce the wealth for this country, to put the coal into ships to send to other countries to make the steel that we need to grow our country. We must do everything possible to ensure their safety.
This House will soon debate the Mining Legislation Amendment (Health and Safety) Bill, which will further enhance mine safety. It provides for the appointment of inspectors to perform functions under the Act solely in relation to mines, the amendment of the coalmine regulations and the Mines Inspection Act to provide that the exercise of the functions referred to are subject to certain requirements, and the amendment of the Mining Act to provide for the establishment of a Mine Safety Advisory Council. That is an important provision. The council will include representatives from peak bodies and employee organisations and will provide advice to the Minister on any policy matters in relation to occupational health and safety in mines, and other advisory functions relating to occupational health and safety of mines that are prescribed by the regulation. I note that the bill has the support of both industry and the unions, which is encouraging. I congratulate the honourable member for Wollongong on bringing forward this issue. It is a timely reminder of the role of the mining industry. I will finish with the words used yesterday by the shadow Minister for Mineral Resources, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in another place, who said:
More importantly than that, the protection of those who work in mines is paramount, and this legislation will build on an existing framework of safety in the mining workplace.
Those words adequately sum up the situation.
Mr MARTIN (Bathurst) [4.09 p.m.]: I support the motion moved by the honourable member for Wollongong. I represent an area of the western coalfields based around Lithgow that, like the south, has had its fair share of tragedy since coal was first mined in the Lithgow Valley in the 1830s. In the 189 mines that have come into and gone out of existence in that time, there have been 92 recorded deaths. Between 1884 and 1949 50 miners were killed and from 1949 to 2001 a further 42 were killed. The year 1949 is a defining point in the history of the coal industry in the west because it was the year of the great strike when the Chifley Government brought the troops in to break the strike. It certainly was a turbulent time. Today we are talking about the impact those tragedies have had on mining communities.
In recent years a memorial has been built at Quota Park, on the outskirts of Lithgow as one turns right to head towards Bathurst. That memorial was a joint effort by the Quota Club of Lithgow, the united mineworkers group, the union representing the men, the Joint Coal Board, various community groups, and Lithgow City Council. A life-size sculpture of a miner, by Margaret Sherman, stands in the park and around it is a memorial list of the 92 men who gave their lives. Unfortunately, some of those deaths occurred in recent years. Many of the men were known to me: I had played sport with them, had a drink with them or worked with some of them. In the 30 years I spent in the mining industry the hardest job I had as a human resource manager was when I had to knock on the door of the family home to tell the family that the husband, or father, would not be coming home because he had been fatally injured. That was part of the fabric of the mining life.
In the early days many tragedies resulted from the lack of action by greedy owners, who had no real thought about safety. Men worked in atrocious conditions and ventilation was almost non-existent. Many miners worked under contract, and in the old shot-firing days they basically crawled around on their hands and knees with a pick and shovel. In the 1890s there was a major disaster at the Lithgow Valley colliery when a fire started in the ventilation boiler. Some seven people were killed and that triggered a royal commission. The Parliamentary Library has the proceedings of that royal commission on record. The findings of the royal commission led to some improvements, but any improvement in safety was a long and slow path. It was only because of the sheer persistence and organisation of the mining unions that advances were made. With the advent of the Joint Coal Board, the dust problem was attacked.
My grandfather, Bob Martin, was a mine deputy. He died as a very young man, just after World War II, from the effects of dust. My father and his brothers have told me about the suffering my grandfather went through in his last years after being affected by the coal dust. That problem is almost non-existent now because of changes brought about by the persistence of the union and the action of the Joint Coal Board. Technology has played a role in helping us avert tragedies. The advent of longwall mining eliminated pillar extraction and the risk of roofs collapsing as miners withdrew from the workings; that was always a risky business. Anyone who ventured beyond the last line of support was always at risk.
Through technology, the Joint Coal Board, the efforts of the union, and legislation in this House and other parliaments, Australian mining has become as safe as any in the world. However, we need to be ever vigilant. It is my fervent wish, and that of everyone, that the last name added to the list on the memorial in Lithgow will be the last that is ever added to it. But we cannot take that for granted. More and more the mines operate at larger tonnages. If anyone had said 20 years ago that a coalmine at which I worked could produce three million tonnes a year and employ about 170 workers, that person would have been laughed at. Productivity increases have been enormous, but we should not be seduced into thinking that safety is not important. Safety will always be a major problem in that industry and something we all have to be vigilant about. I congratulate my colleague on bringing this important motion to the House today.
Mr PICCOLI (Murrumbidgee) [4.13 p.m.]: It is with pleasure that I speak on this motion and I extend my congratulations to the honourable member for Wollongong on raising it. The motion refers to a tragedy that occurred 100 years ago in which 96 workers were killed in a mine explosion, but it goes further and addresses concerns about inherent dangers in mining operations. Far too many people have been killed in mining disasters in Australia. The motion presents an opportunity for members of this House to acknowledge the hard work of those men and women and the dangers they face, and to acknowledge also those who have died while performing that work. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the dangers inherent in life, and particularly in work. Almost every form of work has inherent dangers, but mining is one of the most dangerous occupations.
My family has farming background, which is another of the more dangerous occupations. We can never be too vigilant about work safety for staff. Everyone in this House and throughout New South Wales promotes the notion of improving work safety because of the consequences to those who are injured and to their families. I obtained some research material from the Parliamentary Library about the mining disaster of 31 July 1902. At the end of that day 33 women were widows and 120 children were fatherless. Those families faced the consequences of inadequate work safety. The honourable member for Wollongong acknowledged those who will be involved in the commemoration of the Mount Kembla mine disaster centenary and outlined some of the functions and services that will be held next weekend.
There will be a solemn lighting of 96 candles at the miners' memorial, a memorial service at the Soldiers and Miners Memorial Church at Mount Kembla and numerous other functions that will acknowledge those who tragically gave their lives. I reiterate that we all need to remain vigilant about work safety, particularly with mining. We have heard of all too many deaths in the mining industry. The honourable member for Bathurst said that he hopes that the last name on the list will remain the last name on the list. He has the absolute support of all members of Parliament in that regard.
Ms SALIBA (Illawarra) [4.17 p.m.]: I support the motion and in doing so note that the Mount Kembla mine site is in my electorate. On a number of occasions I have met some members of the committee that has been planning the commemoration. A lot of time and effort has been put into organising that worthwhile week of commemoration. The committee has been very committed to acknowledging the history of Mount Kembla and those who lost their lives there. The Mount Kembla Mine Disaster Centenary Commemoration Committee Secretary, Cate Stevenson, and Treasurer, Chris Ryman, were ably assisted by all members of the committee.
Committee members are Liz Roberts, Chris Powis, Neville Kirkwood, Tony and Tess Pollard, Andrew Stevenson, Liz and Brad Williams, Paul Mack, Bryan O'Keefe, Jenny Doyle, Robbie Cheadle, Wendy Richardson, Phil Donaldson, Peter Howelling, Peter Hutton, Greg Costello, Joanne Reczek, Clare Curtis, Carol and John Herben, Glen Barkley, Geoff Callaway, Mark Hayes, Alison Rowe and George Theophanou. The committee has met on a regular basis and put together a celebration of the 96 lives lost at Mount Kembla during the mine disaster. A royal commission inquiry was held in March, April and May 1903. The royal commission noted that if safety lamps had been used rather than naked flames, those lives could have been saved.
I recognise that coalmining is a major industry in New South Wales. This financial year the coalmining industry turnover is $6.5 billion. It is a major employer in the Illawarra and across the State. I also recognise that coalmining is a dangerous industry. It is important that the industry works towards safety in mine sites. The New South Wales Government has recognised that mine safety is an issue. In particular, a paper called "Safety Works", which was launched by the Minister for Mineral Resources, includes a proposal to update the coalmines health and safety Act in the near future. A discussion paper was issued to people who work in the mine industry, mine owners and community members asking for their views. As a result of these measures, we will be able to implement strong legislation that will protect mineworkers.
I reiterate the remarks of the honourable member for Wollongong when he said that miners should follow their instincts. They should not allow themselves to be pressured into cutting corners for the sake of making more money. It is a very dangerous industry and it is important that miners' lives are the most important issue and that we protect the people who choose to work in the mining industry. We need this industry. The operations of a number of our electricity suppliers are based on coal. In the Illawarra, coal is needed for BHP and for exports from the Port Kembla coal terminal. I commend the honourable member for Wollongong for moving this urgency motion, I applaud the State Government for its efforts in improving the mine safety and I congratulate the committee on its efforts. I look forward to celebrating with the committee and commemorating the people who died in the mine disaster. I am sure that the close-knit Mount Kembla community will continue to remember those people.
Mr MARKHAM (Wollongong—Parliamentary Secretary) [4.22 p.m.], in reply: I thank honourable members for their contributions to this important debate. Back in those days 100 years ago mineworkers went underground in gassy and dusty conditions with a naked flame to provide light for them to work. On the very day the explosion occurred and killed those 96 men and boys, the union was at the coal tribunal in Wollongong arguing that a number of small explosions had occurred which they believed were due to the flames igniting the gas. The union argued that a very serious incident could occur if something was not done about the method of lighting. The argument of the coal barons was no different then to the arguments that are put today. They said that if they had to provide safety lights, rather than a naked flame, they would not be able to afford to operate the mine. They said the cost of providing underground safety lights would affect their profitability and, therefore, they would not be able to continue to work the mine and hundreds of jobs would be lost. They argued that point on the very day that the explosion took place.
About 14 years ago I went to see a play at the Theatre South in Wollongong called Windy Gully by Wendy Richardson. It was just before I was elected in 1988 and the play was a fundraiser for the campaign. The play depicted what had happened at Mount Kembla mine those many years ago. So many men were killed. In some instances, there were three or four victims from the one family—fathers, brothers and sons. The effect on the Mount Kembla village lasted for 50 years. That is an indication of how many people and how many families were affected by this disaster. Some people say that the devastation to the village and to the mothers, sisters, widows and young children left behind lasted for 50 years before the hurt was healed. Having talked with the committee last Friday and with others over the past six or seven months, I do not believe that the hurt has ever healed.
When the committee was formed 12 months ago to make sure this tragic event was remembered in history, so that young people in the community and far afield are well aware of what happened, I was honoured to be asked to be its patron. The committee members knew of my long-term association with the coal industry and that I had worked in the coal industry for 26 years before I was elected to Parliament. They knew that I had a real commitment to making sure that communities such as at Mount Kembla and Bulli received just recognition for the tragedies. I spoke about the Bulli incident earlier this afternoon. The men who died there left behind about 50 widows and 155 fatherless children. The same thing happened at Bulli: the same period of loss affected the families there, and still does today.
Mining is a dangerous industry. The honourable member for Myall Lakes spoke about the number of people killed in the industry. Every year throughout the world about 20,000 mineworkers are killed. Australia has one of the safest operations anywhere in the world, but still men are killed. No-one wants to see that happen. I have no doubt that all members of this Parliament will do everything in their power to make sure that when the men go underground to create wealth for this nation they come out at the end of their shift and go home to their wives and loved ones. We have to make sure that the people who work in that incredible environment are looked after in the best possible way. I reiterate that the mineworkers themselves have to be their own check inspectors.
Motion agreed to.
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