Pro-active New Mining Legislation in NSW

Australia is one of the leading minerals exporting countries in the world with more than two hundred years experience in mining and mining legislation. Earlier mining regulations were disaster driven, motivated by the need to prevent fatalities and eliminate mining accidents. During this period the mining legislation was continually amended as the mining practices changed along with developments in mining technology. In the past twenty years the approach to mine safety has changed from prescriptive mining legislation to a pro-active approach characterised by duty of care, risk analysis and continuous improvements in safety standards based on the best practice approach. This paper describes the main features of the new mining legislation in NSW with an aim of adopting them as best practice in the international mining arena.