September is a time of reflection for Queensland’s mining community, as we gather to honour those who have lost their lives in the coalfields. Each year on September 19, we mark Miners Memorial Day, commemorating the workers who never made it home.
This date holds deep significance – it marks the anniversary of the Mount Mulligan disaster in 1921, Queensland’s worst industrial tragedy. Seventy-five miners were killed in a single explosion, devastating a small community and leaving a legacy that still echoes through generations.
Mount Mulligan was considered one of the safest in the country, with no history of gas detection. However, safety practices at the time were dangerously outdated. Workers used naked flames underground, unaware of the explosive potential of coal dust.
At 9:25am on 19 September 1921, the coal dust caking the inner walls of Mount Mulligan ignited, propelling an explosion throughout the workings. 75 men, a quarter of the town’s population, were killed in an instant. A generation of sons, brothers, fathers and husbands were wiped out, losses which still reverberate for dozens of mining families today.
While a disaster of this scale has never been repeated in Queensland, many others remain burned into the collective consciousness of our communities.
This year we are also commemorating the 50th anniversary of the underground explosion at Kianga No 1 mine that killed 13 men on 20 September 1975. An Inquiry found the men had been working in a high-risk environment due to the poor management of gas and mining methods meaning the coal was liable to spontaneous combustion.
Every worker killed is a tragedy that should have been avoided. It’s up to all of us to make our workplaces safer by staying vigilant, speaking up, refusing to perform unsafe tasks and never giving in to complacency.
The Miners Memorial Day is an opportunity for the mining community to come together, remember our history and support grieving families. It allows us to mourn together and show our deep respect to those workers who never made it home at the end of the day.
However, the service is also an opportunity to recognise the advocacy that has followed deaths in the coal industry. For example, the disaster at Mount Mulligan led to the most significant re-writing of coal mine safety in Queensland history. In response to the disaster, the Coal Mine Act 1925 was passed, which finally separated coal mines from the general mine safety rules, which were irrelevant or insufficient for coal.
It also established rules for ventilation, banned the use of naked lights, and introduced stone dusting to minimise the potential of coal dust propagated explosions. It established the office of the Chief Inspector of Coal Mines and required the appointment of dedicated Mines Inspectors with practical mining experience – the precursor to today’s Check Inspectors.
These changes were hard-won, driven by the activism of workers who risked their lives daily. Every safety improvement has been paid for in blood – from Mount Mulligan to the modern day. We must never forget that our current standards are built on the sacrifices of those who came before us.
The MEU remains committed to fighting for safer workplaces. Production pressures and complacency continue to threaten safety, but through collective action, we can push for stronger protections. Our goal is simple: every worker should return home safely at the end of their shift.
Miners Memorial Day reminds us of our shared history, the cost of progress, and the importance of unity. It’s a day to honour the fallen, support grieving families, and recommit to the fight for safety in our industry.
Mitch Hughes
President Mining and Energy Union Queensland District
