Representatives of the mining sector said the mine safety regulator is “dysfunctional” and urged the government for an investigation on the mine safety regulations in West Australia.

The comments from the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) came after the Opposition's Mining spokesperson Jon Ford suggested that an investigation on mine safety should take place.

Mr. Ford said there has been a breach of laws by the Department of Mines and Petroleum Resources' Safety Inspectorate.

Gary Wood, the CFMEU spokesperson, stressed the need for better regulation especially on health and safety and proper auditing.

“Despite numerous inquiries over recent years the regulator continues, in our view, to be dysfunctional, and doesn't have the appropriate resources to effectively regulate the mining industry and that's continuing to cause fatalities and cause serious harm to workers,” he said.

Mr. Wood said that reform should be made to improve the workers' safety.

“Where we need to go is putting in place processes where the establishment of health and safety in the industry is well-regulated and the development of safety procedures on mine sites is done in consultation with the workforce and representative and it needs to have a proper auditing proceedures introduced.”

Norman Moore, the Mines Minister, has brushed off criticisms by the unions, stating that most allegations were incorrect.