Susan McDonald (Queensland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

Is there a time that is more important for Australians to look after each other than at a time of tragedy and loss in your family? Between February 2022 and February 2026, Australia's mining resources sector has recorded 26 fatalities, and so far this year five Australians have lost their life in the mining resources sector: Jeff Palmer, from Queensland; Steve McDonald, from Queensland; Ashley Schultz, from Queensland; Matthew Middlebrook, from the Northern Territory; and Simon Mukwarami, from Western Australia.

It is the organisation Miners' Promise who have come to the aid of these families, who have provided a complete wraparound for the families of these men who have left behind children, wives, partners. These are the people who, at their time of need, have been supported by Miners' Promise. It is this devastating time when families and loved ones are left to grapple with the idea of never seeing their loved ones again. There's the unprecedented volume of decisions, funeral planning, phone calls and emails and the broadcasting of their loss all over social media—and that's when Miners' Promise stands up.

For 15 years Miners' Promise has been providing compassionate care, essential liaison and advocacy, trauma informed emotional support, grief counselling and, most importantly, the practical assistance that supports these mining families who have been affected by workplace death, suicide, life-changing injuries and sudden crisis events. Unlike traditional employee assistance programs, Miners' Promise works through what it describes as a companion model of care, supporting families for as long as they need it. I am a proud patron of Miners' Promise, and I request everybody look to see how they can support this organisation.