Queensland Government Submission to the Industry Commission Black
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Submission to the Industry Commission inquiry into the black coal industry QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION TO THE INDUSTRY COMMISSION BLACK COAL INQUIRY PREPARED BY THE QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT November 1997 Queensland Government - November 1997 Submission to the Industry Commission inquiry into the black coal industry ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT This document has been compiled by the Department of Mines and Energy on behalf of the Queensland Government. Contributions have been received from Queensland Treasury, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Department of Economic Development and Trade, Department of Training and Industrial Relations, Department of Transport, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Environment. Requests for further information or explanation of the position paper should be directed to: Mr Stephen Matheson A/Manager Resources Economics and Analysis Unit Resource Development Division Department of Mines and Energy Ph: (07) 3237 1614 Fax: (07) 3237 0470 Email: [email protected] Queensland Government - November 1997 Submission to the Industry Commission inquiry into the black coal industry TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.0 VISION OF THE CO AL INDUSTRY ................................ ................................ ..........1 2.0 CONCLUSIONS/RECO MMENDATIONS ................................ ................................ 3 3.0 INTRODUCTION ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............5 4.0 THE COAL INDUSTRY IN QUEENSLAND ................................ ............................. 7 4.1 PRESENT STATUS ............................................................................................7 4.1.1 Coal quality and resources ...................................................................................7 4.1.2 Production........................................................................................................... 12 4.1.3 Exports ................................................................................................................ 13 4.1.4 Price trends ......................................................................................................... 14 4.1.5 Investment in new mines and associated infrastructure ................................ 16 4.1.6 Employment ....................................................................................................... 16 4.1.7 Revenue............................................................................................................... 17 4.1.8 Industry structure ............................................................................................... 17 4.2 FUTURE PROSPECTS ................................................................................................... 19 4.2.1 Demand outlook and future developments..................................................... 19 4.2.2 The international coal market........................................................................... 21 4.2.3 Future coal prices............................................................................................... 23 4.2.4 Coal as a future energy source.......................................................................... 24 5.0 FACTORS AFFECTIN G COMPETITIVENESS ................................ ................... 25 5.1 MINE OPERATIONS....................................................................................................... 25 5.1.1 Overview............................................................................................................. 25 5.1.2 Future trends....................................................................................................... 27 5.2 WORK ARRANGEMENTS ........................................................................................... 28 5.2.1 Productivity ........................................................................................................ 28 5.2.2 Industrial disputation ......................................................................................... 31 5.3 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ............................................................. 32 5.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 32 5.3.2 Background......................................................................................................... 32 5.3.3 Incident statistics................................................................................................ 32 5.3.4 Injury statistics.................................................................................................... 33 5.3.5 Lost time statistics.............................................................................................. 33 5.3.6 Health statistics................................................................................................... 33 5.3.7 Legislative changes............................................................................................ 34 5.3.8 Training and recruiting needs........................................................................... 36 5.3.9 Health and safety structures.............................................................................. 36 5.3.10 Conclusions......................................................................................................... 37 5.4 TRANSPORT OVERVIEW............................................................................................ 37 5.4.1 The transport chain ............................................................................................ 37 5.4.2 World’s best practice......................................................................................... 41 5.4.3 Infrastructure issues ........................................................................................... 42 5.5 RAIL .............................................................................................................................. 43 5.6 PORTS .............................................................................................................................. 45 5.6.1 Summary of export coal port infrastructure.................................................... 45 5.6.2 Reforms............................................................................................................... 47 5.6.3 Port pricing arrangements................................................................................. 47 5.7 OTHER TRANSPORT MODES..................................................................................... 48 Queensland Government - November 1997 Submission to the Industry Commission inquiry into the black coal industry 5.8 WATER .............................................................................................................................. 48 5.9 ROYALTY REGIME ....................................................................................................... 49 6.0 GOVERNMENT IMPAC T ON THE COAL INDUSTRY ................................ ... 53 6.1 STRUCTURAL REFORM .............................................................................................. 53 6.2 CORPORATISATION..................................................................................................... 54 6.2.1 General ................................................................................................................ 54 6.2.2 Main features of corporatisation in Queensland............................................. 54 6.3 COMPETITION POLICY................................................................................................ 55 6.3.1 General ................................................................................................................ 55 6.3.2 Energy aspects.................................................................................................... 56 6.4 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS POLICY.......................................................................... 57 6.4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 57 6.4.2 New legislation................................................................................................... 57 6.5 TAXATION ....................................................................................................................... 58 6.6 MAJOR PROJECT FACILITATION ............................................................................ 59 6.7 SURAT BASIN PROCESS ............................................................................................. 60 6.8 INFORMATION PROVISION....................................................................................... 61 6.9 REGULATORY REGIME............................................................................................... 62 6.9.1 Economy wide.................................................................................................... 62 6.9.2 Exploration and mining tenure processes........................................................ 63 6.10 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ........................................................................................ 66 6.10.1 Planning and approval....................................................................................... 66 6.10.2 Operational controls........................................................................................... 67 6.10.3 Rehabilitation ....................................................................................................