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Introduction
A Queensland mining union has condemned the $80,000 fine handed to Coronado Curragh following the death of experienced miner Clark Peadon at the Curragh North coal mine near Blackwater in 2021. The company pleaded guilty to breaching workplace health and safety laws, but industry representatives say the penalty fails to reflect the gravity of the tragedy.
Details of the Incident
Mr Peadon, 54, was crushed by a dragline shoe while conducting cable relocation work at the Curragh North open-cut mine in November 2021. He was an experienced worker who had spent years in the industry.
The company, a subsidiary of Coronado Global Resources, was charged under the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999 for failing to meet safety obligations. The maximum penalty available under the Act was $689,250.
Court Outcome
In the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Coronado Curragh was fined $80,000 and ordered to pay $28,572.78 in court costs. No conviction was recorded.
The court heard that since Mr Peadon’s death, Coronado had invested $5 million in developing an industry-first Proximity Awareness System (PAS) to prevent similar incidents. The system uses optical, radar, and lidar sensors to automatically halt dragline operations when a person enters a danger zone.
The technology has now been installed on three of the mine’s four draglines, with full rollout expected next year. Peer mining companies and Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) have visited the site to observe the system in operation.
Union Reaction
The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) Queensland district president Mitch Hughes criticised the penalty, calling it “appalling” given the loss of life.
“To sit here and see that they’ve only been given an $80,000 fine for someone’s life is pretty inadequate in our view,” Hughes said.
He added that while the court is limited by current legislation, harsher penalties are needed to deter companies from compromising worker safety.
“If the government and the regulator want to deter unsafe practices, that’s probably a good place to start — by increasing the penalties that are available.”
Safety Record and Past Incidents
The Curragh operation employs about 2,400 people including contractors. It has a troubled safety history, with another fatality occurring 18 months before Mr Peadon’s death.
In January 2020, worker Donald Rabbit, 33, was killed when struck by a heavy tyre and rim at the same mine. Charges initially laid against Coronado and contractor Thiess were later dropped.
Despite new safety systems being implemented, Mr Hughes said the industry still faces persistent risks:
“We’ve sadly still seen fatalities occur … the work to improve safety for all coal miners has never stopped.”
Conclusion
While the court recognised Coronado’s investment in safety improvements, union officials maintain the fine does little to address systemic risks in Queensland’s mining sector. Mr Peadon’s death adds to a concerning toll — seven coal miners have died in the state over the past five years — underscoring the ongoing challenge of keeping workers safe in one of Australia’s most dangerous industries.