Queensland is ready to claim leadership in the export of mine safety training, thanks to a new cluster of private and public organisations.

The new cluster, Queensland Safety Services, is made up of seven organisations based in Rockhampton, Emerald and Mackay, as well as Brisbane.

Each of the partners specialises in different aspects of mine safety and mine management training and some already have export track records. The cluster will provide increased bargaining power when tendering for major mining safety training jobs.

The cluster members will sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Rockhampton today.

The seven cluster organisations are: Central Highlands Safety Services, Central Queensland University, Current Training Qld and TQ Mining Services all in Rockhampton, Lennon Training in Emerald, IML International in Mackay and Simtars in Brisbane.

These organisations were part of a Queensland Government Trade Mission to Shanghai and Beijing last year. China has been identified as an initial target market due to its dependence on coal for energy, its relatively immature coal mining industry and its continued problems with mine safety.

QSS spokesperson Doug White, from Central Highlands Safety Services, said “Queensland is now one of the safest coal producing areas in the world, as a result of changes in legislation which have been driven by industry and delivered by safety and training organisations such as those comprising QSS”.

“We look forward to providing our product and services to the Chinese Coal Industry and assisting them in reaping the rewards of safer mining,” Mr White said.

Photo: Professor Jack Wood, Professor Peter Smith, Anne Smith, Professor Elizabeth Taylor, Dr Ricki Jeffery and Minister Robert Schwarten at the launch.