Support for miners’ fund

THE state government has no plans to co-fund a new industry backed charity aimed at providing immediate assistance to the families of miners killed or disabled in resources-related accidents.

The Miner’s Promise will officially start operating today (July 1) and will provide legal and financial support, education development and property services to families severely affected by mine-related accidents.

Opposition leader Eric Ripper called on the state government to match Labor’s pledge to provide between $5 million and $10 million to the fund under Labor’s previously announced Bereaved Families Support policy.

But a spokesman for Mines Minister Norman Moore, who publicly endorsed the charity’s launch in parliament last week, said the government had “no current plans to co-fund” the initiative, and noted it already provided some support services for bereaved families, notably through the Department of Mines and Petroleum and WorkSafe.

Meanwhile, Mr Moore has committed to a major upgrade of the state’s mining safety regime. The initiative includes an industry wide safety levy