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ABC News
10 minutes ago
- ABC News
Inspections begin on fire-stricken Grosvenor mine ahead of full re-entry
Inspectors have entered an underground coal mine in central Queensland for the first time since an explosion sent miners fleeing to the surface more than a year ago. A Queensland Mines Rescue Service team took the first steps into Anglo American's Grosvenor mine on Wednesday, wearing protective equipment and respirators to carry out "preliminary reconnaissance inspections". The mine was evacuated and sealed after methane gas ignited, creating an underground inferno on June 29 last year. Black plumes of smoke blanketed the nearby town of Moranbah, where residents were told to stay indoors and keep windows shut. A similar explosion at the same mine in 2020 seriously injured five workers. The brief reopening of the mine follows approval by the industry regulator. The Mining and Energy Union has also lifted its ban on entry. Anglo American said it finished safety preparations last week. That included the unsealing of mine shafts, which were first closed last year to starve the underground blaze of oxygen. Mine general manager Shane McDowall said the first re-entry was a "significant milestone." Mr McDowall said staff would re-enter the mine once safety inspections were finished, but mining would not restart for some time. "Our crews have stepped up in amazing ways — solving problems, adapting technology in innovative ways, and rethinking how we do things underground," he said in a statement. Mining and Energy Union industry safety and health representative Jason Hill said while some sites had recovered from similar levels of damage, no-one on the ground believed mining would restart at Grosvenor any time soon. "There's nothing to say it can't return into a full production. It's just a matter of identifying what happened," he said. Mr Hill said one of the hazards would be the lining around mine shaft, which had deteriorated in the fire, damaging the surrounding structure. "It's a matter of monitoring and ensuring that there were no issues that were going to pop up," he said. Mining is also on hold at a neighbouring Anglo American mine, which was also damaged by an underground fire last year. The Moranbah North mine was first evacuated in April 2024, after reports of a dangerous carbon monoxide leak that was later confirmed as an explosion and fire. Nobody was injured in the incident. Anglo American chief executive officer Duncan Wanblad told investors this month it was costing $55 million a month to pay staff and maintain operations at both Grosvenor and Moranbah North. He said the company planned to restart operations at Grosvenor "later this year", with Moranbah North to follow in 2026. In November 2024, Peabody Energy entered a $5.7 billion deal to buy Anglo American's four steel-making coal mines in Queensland, including the two that remained out of action. But the restarting of longwall mining at Grosvenor was a condition of the final sale price. Mr Wanblad told investors he believed both companies still wanted the deal to go ahead. However, Peabody described the explosion at Moranbah North as a "Material Adverse Change" to the deal, saying it would provide an update on its position later this month. Mr Wanblad said any decision to go ahead with the purchase would "ultimately be a Peabody decision".
News.com.au
10 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Michael Voss will remain Carlton coach for 2026 after being endorsed by the board
Embattled Carlton coach Michael Voss has had his future secured after the club's board endorsed a recommendation from new CEO Graham Wright that he should be retained for 2026. Contracted until the end of next season, Voss' tenure was put on the table at a club board meeting on Wednesday night amid mounting speculation the Blues could follow Melbourne's lead and look for a new coach. Carlton has won just seven of 20 games this season, failing to meet most expectations, after making finals in 2023 and 2024. But on Thursday afternoon a club statement confirmed Voss was safe for next season. 'The Carlton Football Club can today confirm with absolute clarity that its AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss will remain coach of the Blues into the 2026 AFL Season,' the statement said. 'As communicated by the Club in June, incoming CEO Graham Wright has been maximising the final eight weeks of the home and away season to work closely with the football department. 'This has involved clear consultation with players, coaches and staff, producing valuable insights into where the AFL program currently sits, and the necessary steps that need to be taken to take the team forward.' Carlton President Rob Priestley said the club wanted to make ' calm, rational and fully informed decisions' and despite months of poor results backed in Voss. 'The first of these has been in relation to our Senior Coach, which we are now in a position to provide clarity on following last night's scheduled Board meeting,' he said. 'Last night, Graham presented a recommendation to the Board of Directors that Michael remains as our Senior Coach into next season. 'This recommendation was unanimously endorsed by the Board. 'For the last few months Graham and Michael have been meeting regularly, during which time they have been engaged in open and honest dialogue with one another on what is required for us to evolve as a football side. 'Michael's ability to lead our football club this year in the face of incredible pressure has displayed the attributes of a strong and selfless leader. 'Carlton always comes first for our coach, and Graham and Michael share a clear and aligned view on the opportunities to improve football performance. 'We want to make it absolutely clear that Michael Voss is the coach of the Carlton Football Club and he will remain the coach of the Carlton Football Club.' Voss has been in charge of the Blues since 2022, taking them to the preliminary final in 2023, and the finals again in 2024.
ABC News
40 minutes ago
- ABC News
Abetz in, Barnett out as treasurer in Tasmanian Liberals cabinet shuffle
Former federal MPs Bridget Archer and Gavin Pearce are new faces in Premier Jeremy Rockliff's latest cabinet, Roger Jaensch has been dumped, and Deputy Premier Guy Barnett moved on as treasurer. Ms Archer has been appointed to the demanding health portfolio, replacing Jacquie Petrusma, who has stepped down to focus on her recovery from a serious hamstring injury she suffered in June. Mr Pearce will be the minister for primary industries and water, and veterans affairs, replacing former children and youth minister Roger Jaensch. Mr Barnett has been moved from the treasury portfolio following an immense backlash over this year's state budget, which projected that net debt would grow to almost $11 billion in the 2028-29 financial year. Eric Abetz will take on the portfolio. Mr Rockliff will have no ministerial responsibilities in his new-look cabinet after he was re-commissioned by Governor Barbara Baker on Wednesday, saying he wanted to concentrate on his duties as premier. "It's important that with the new make-up of parliament that I'm able to dedicate the time to working across all areas of parliament and the crossbench, so I can have greater opportunity and investment of time in collaboration and listening and learning from all members of parliament," he said. Mr Rockliff said Ms Archer, who has also been appointed to the new ageing portfolio and as minister for Aboriginal affairs, would be a great addition to his cabinet. Mr Rockliff said Mr Barnett had not been dumped as treasurer, but was instead taking on "increased responsibility" by also adding the justice and small business portfolios. "There was a range of areas of responsibility, and I want to ensure that each member of parliament has the right workload balance to be able to support them in making key decisions," he said. Education Minister Jo Palmer will also become the children and youth minister, and be responsible for the closure of the Ashley Youth Detention Centre. Mr Abetz will remain responsible for the government's proposed AFL stadium, in a renamed role as minister for Macquarie Point urban renewal. Mr Rockliff said he was confident his new cabinet would remain in place for the next four years, despite his government being expected to face a no-confidence motion as soon as parliament resumes on August 19. Labor Leader Dean Winter, who met with all five Independent MPs on Thursday as he continued his bid to form a minority government, has confirmed his party or a crossbench MP will move a no-confidence motion. The premier said Mr Winter had "had learnt nothing" from last month's state election, where Labor suffered a 3.1 per cent statewide swing against it. "What Tasmanians want is a stable parliament, a government that works across the parliament in the best interests of Tasmanians and a government that can get on with the job of delivering key areas of our agenda, but also key areas of passions for other MPs as well," he said. Ms Archer, who topped the poll in her seat of Bass after being defeated at this year's federal election, said she looked forward to taking on the challenge of the health portfolio. She said the government had made great strides in reducing the elective surgery waiting list under Ms Petrusma's leadership, and hoped to "continue the momentum". "I very much look forward to being able to work collaboratively with the parliament and across stakeholders in our community in what is, I think, one of our most important areas of responsibility in northern Tasmania and right across Tasmania," she said. Mr Rockliff said he had great admiration for Ms Petrusma, and "her diligence over the course of the last 15 or 16 months as she has dedicated her time to the health system".
