Arabic version: تم تغريم ماسترماين 310,000 دولار بسبب حادث تعدين قاتل في 2022

Mastermyne Contracting Services has been fined $310,000 following the death of worker Gavin Feltwell at the Moranbah North mine in Queensland. Feltwell, 59, suffered critical injuries from an equipment accident on March 25, 2022, while working a night shift.

According to ABC News, the company pleaded guilty in the Emerald Magistrates Court on June 23, 2026, after being charged in November 2023 with failure to discharge health and safety obligations causing death or grievous bodily harm.

During the incident, a torque arm being lowered struck Feltwell. Emergency services were called, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The court found that there were no safe-work procedures in place for the task being performed at the time.

Magistrate Cameron McKenzie expressed hope that the conclusion of the legal proceedings would provide some closure to Feltwell’s family. However, both Michelle and Daniel Feltwell expressed their dissatisfaction with the penalty, questioning the value placed on human life in the mining industry.

The Mining and Energy Union criticized the court’s decision, calling it “unacceptable” and a “slap on the wrist,” emphasizing that Feltwell’s life was worth far more than the imposed fine.