Hello everyone and thank you for this opportunity to say a few words and help open the interactive play, The Gift.

And thank you to Barry McGuire for that wonderful welcome to country. 

Can I acknowledge a few people here today:

• Executive Director of Miner’s Promise Debbie Morrow
• WorkSafe Commissioner WA Sally North
• Association of Mining and Exploration Companies Chief Executive Warren Pearce.

It’s a privilege to be here as a proud patron of Miners’ Promise, a role I took on late last year.

This is a cause close to my heart and I have long admired the very important work done by the Miners’ Promise organisation.

For 15 years, Miners’ Promise has been providing vital support services to workers and their families in the wake of mining-related tragedies. 

The health and safety of workers is priority number one. 

Ensuring workers can return safely to their families at the end of a shift or swing is – and should always be – our primary concern.

Regrettably, accidents in the sector do occur.

The current rate of workplace accidents in mining and resources, including fatalities, remains unacceptably high.

The mining industry averages nine worker deaths per year.

Last year the industry reported nationally 11 fatalities and three deaths have occurred this year. 

Only last month a 32-year-old worker died at the Wiluna West Iron Ore project.

The mining industry may be the backbone of this nation’s economy, but this is of little comfort to the friends and family of this young worker who did not get to go home. 

The only acceptable number of fatalities is zero.

That’s why we are committed to working with the sector to promote and enforce workplace safety. 

For instance, important reforms to the offshore safety regime commenced in June 2025 that put the worker safety front and centre by:

• strengthening the role of health and safety representatives,
• improving worker protection against discrimination and coercion, and
• introducing new requirements to prevent, report and deal with workplace incidents of 
  bullying and harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment.

Training and upskilling needs to incorporate safety training. 

Everyone has the right to be safe and to be treated with respect in the workplace.

Prioritising safety and ensuring every worker returns home safely at the end of their shift, supports a stronger, more resilient resources sector.

But when the worst happens, Miners’ Promise and its staff, all highly trained and experienced, offer support when it’s needed most.

The reality is that grief stays with families forever. Sorrow might lessen over time. But the loss of a loved one is never forgotten. 

Miners’ Promise works and walks with families, sometimes for years after a tragedy.  

Because it can take many years for those left behind to get back on their feet financially and even longer to recover emotionally.

And no one every fully recovers. 

The Gift explores this journey, taking the audience from a tragic event onsite, through to the response, recovery, and healing.

It’s a production that does a wonderful job of raising awareness about why we need a service like Miners’ Promise.

I want to congratulate Miners’ Promise, ACT Australia and everyone involved in collaborating on The Gift.

Every measure we can use to spread the tremendous work of Miners’ Promise – and to promote safety in general – is worthwhile.

As a proud patron, I look forward to continuing to support your efforts, as you support Australian workers in their hour of need.

Thank you.