The Mining And Energy Union Podcast

Tony Maher’s the longest serving General President in the union’s history. On the eve of his retirement, he reflects on the major challenges and victories throughout his tenure, and what they mean for the next generation of MEU activists.

Mining unions played a key role in bringing down apartheid in South Africa. We meet one mining union leader who was at the coal face of the struggle.

How can coal fired power station workers across the country ensure they retain stable well paying jobs and their communities thrive into the future? Industry Minister Tim Ayres talks about the success Collie has had in transforming itself, and the role of the NZEA in supporting regional industries across the country.

https://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-07/TRG-ROVOA.pdf

Why is a 130-year-old coal mine back in the news? Miners at Metropolitan mine in Helensburgh have been chalking up the wins this month, securing a strong new EA despite being locked out by their bosses and winning a monumental case in the High Court. Join us to catch up on what’s been going on at Australia’s oldest mine.

BHP’s been told! The Fair Work Commission has ruled its labour hire rort is over and it needs to cough up the $30,000 per person it’s been dudding ‘Operations Services’ workers at its Peak Downs, Saraji and Goonyella Riverside mines. That’s over 2,300 mine workers. We find out what happens next.

Bob Hawke could scull a beer faster than anyone on the planet, he also gave us Medicare. But when he was a union advocate what was so special about him people wanted him to be Prime Minister? We find out and meet a heap of other union legends who brought us the rights we all enjoy at work today.

Where do you find the best burgers in the Hunter? ‘Big’ Dan Repacholi shares his favourite haunts and talks about the pride he feels when miners tell him about the tens of thousands of dollars of extra pay they’re getting because of his government’s new laws. But what has he got in store for the district if he and Albo win a second term?

Planning or expecting a new baby in your family? It can be extra challenging to juggle new parenthood with shift work like mining. In this episode, we talk to operator Rebecca and MEU lawyer Eliza about your rights on parental leave, return to work and flexibility; how to stand up for them and where we need to improve.

It can be intimidating to be called into the boss’s office. It’s usually not for a pat on the back. Knowing your rights and having a solid game plan can make all the difference to getting a fair outcome. In today’s episode we give you practical tips to navigate disciplinary meetings; or provide effective support to a workmate.

Crims, rebels, troublemakers. It might be time to re-think some of the characters sent to Australia from Britain in the 1800s. It turns out most convicts weren’t criminals, they were political activists or the criminalised poor - many were rebel coal miners sent to Australia for standing up to the man. Noone thought when they got here they’d keep up the fight. The fact they did meant this country became one of the fairest societies on the planet. In this episode we meet some of them.

Find out how new laws passed by the Albanese government strengthen union delegates’ rights including paid training, support to communicate with members on site and the ability to speak up for members in meetings.

$33,000, $26,000, $20,000: these are just some of the parcels of extra cash arriving in the wallets of MEU members across the nation on November 1st - the day the Albanese government’s ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws kicked in. In this episode you’ll hear from some of them.

Love is not a word you probably associate with your local Mayor. But there’s alot of love for Mayor Anne Baker. She pumped $400 million into the Bowen Basin including for the new Moranbah Hospital, and she saved the town of Glenden. But Anne’s worried if Labor loses the election money for the district will dry up. Authorised by G Kelly, MEU National Office, 215 Clarence St Sydney 2000.

Until now, members mining iron ore at BHP’s hot, dusty sites in the Pilbara haven’t had much say in their pay and conditions. But thanks to years of work by the Western Mine Workers Alliance they’ve finally got a seat at the table to talk about family friendly rosters, guaranteed annual pay increases, and on time flights.

Cannabis can be prescribed to you by a doctor and over 600,000 Aussies are using it to treat medical conditions. But how are employers responding to use of cannabis products in high risk workplaces, like mine sites? We discuss impairment, workplace policies and find out how the union is helping members dealing with this emerging issue.

One accident at work is one too many. But how do we make it to zero? One bloke who knows almost everything there is to know about workplace safety is Emeritus Professor Michael Quinlan. He says there are common causes, or patterns, in all workplace accidents. In fact there are 10 of them. We find out more.

There are 27 pretty happy coal miners at the Mt Pleasant open cut in the Hunter Valley, they’re the 1st workers in the country to get a pay rise thanks to the Albanese Government's new ‘Same Job, Same Pay’ laws… they’ll be getting an extra $25,000 a year. So, how do they feel? And who will they spend that money on? SPOILER ALERT: It’ll be their mums.

Train drivers at BHP’s iron ore division in The Pilbara are celebrating - they’ve just signed a great deal - but it’s been a long dusty road. And they had to threaten strike action to make the company see sense. Their colleagues over at Rio Tinto have also inked a new agreement. We find out more.

Coal miner Tom Mann was the Taylor Swift of unionists - he toured the world getting involved in union blues - like in Broken Hill where he was arrested helping miners in their fight against BHP. Phil Katz has written a new book on Tom Mann. In this episode Phil tells us about the vegetarian who carried guns, the working class man who spoke four languages, the tee-totaler who was the boogie man to bosses the world over.

Since the re-emergence of Black Lung disease in Queensland in 2015 the MEU has fought for improvements to legislation and industry practice. A recent conference in Cairns discussed what more can be done to prevent coal miners developing dust disease. Key presenters explain what the risks are, how they are managed and how workers can protect themselves.

The Callide open cut mine near Biloela is where the union will road test the Albanese Government’s new Same Job Same Pay provisions in the Closing The Loopholes Bill passed just before Christmas. Whether the contractors on site will get the same wages as directly employed miners is now up to the Fair Work Commission.

Mining can be a life-long career - sure - but how many coal miners notch up a half century? And how many rack up that 50 years at the same mine? Robert ‘Macca’ MacPherson has been presented with the MEU’s 50-Year-Service Award after a lifetime living and working in Moura - a Central Queensland mining town itself steeped in history.

Would you watch 24 miners box each other to raise money for a mate injured at work? Yes? Well plenty of people agree with you, the recent ‘Mates in Mining Fight Night’ in Cessnock was sold out weeks before the event. On this month’s episode we bring you the highlights.

MEU organisers from around the country converged on Sydney this week to plan for 2024 - they flew in from Central Queensland, the Pilbara, Broken Hill and everywhere in between to celebrate their wins and plan for 2024. We caught up with them…

As a special bonus this month we’re replaying an episode of an ABC podcast called ‘The History Listen’, it’s part of a series called ‘dusted’ about lung diseases associated with mining and features former Common Cause editor Paddy Gorman, and Miners Federation General Secretary Barry Swan.

Same Job Same Pay for labour hire workers is part of the Closing Loopholes bill before the federal parliament and are being examined by a senate committee. The MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden, breaks down some of the misinformation employer groups are telling Senators.

Chris Griffith owes his life to The Westpac Helicopter Rescue Service. Of course as a 15-year-old, the Duralie Lodge member had no way of knowing it was the contributions of Hunter Valley coal miners which funded the chopper that saved him after a horror motorbike crash.

Diesel fitter Colin Gray is a delegate at the Carmichael mine in Queensland. As the Voice referendum approaches, Colin talks about it what it means to him and why it’s important for politicians to hear directly from Aboriginal communities.

Industry Health & Safety Representatives – known as ‘check inspectors’ – play a unique role in the sector. Some say they have the most important job in the coal industry. This episode we find out about the history and responsibility of the ‘check inspector’ role and meet two ISHRs to find out what makes them tick.

Many of the worst disasters to hit coal mining occurred in July. We’ve delved into our archives to bring you a chat with the former General Secretary about what we can learn from them.

Lawrence Watson’s love affair with drilling began on Valentine's Day 2012 and he’s been going strong ever since. But what makes a good driller? And how will automation change the game?

Members of the Mining And Energy Union will vote in coming weeks whether to become an independent organisation. We hear from members why they’re voting yes and from General Secretary Grahame Kelly on how the vote will work.

What legal changes are the Albanese Government making to get rid of the labour hire and casualisation rorts? And how are they criminalising wage theft and pay secrecy clauses? We find out what laws have already passed and which are coming down the pipe from the MEU’s top legal eagle, Adam Walkaden.

Those responsible for Graeme Edwards’ death almost got away with it. Luckily the Victorian Branch of the MEU were on the case and forced a prosecution of Energy Australia through the courts resulting in a $1.5 million fine and justice for Graeme’s mother, brother and sisters.

We talk to MEU members from power stations and the coal mines that supply them about their concerns as the energy industry rapidly changes – including jobs of the future, safety, the challenges of more renewables entering the grid and why we need an federal Energy Transition Authority.

What does it take to become a longwall operator in an underground mine? This episode we find out the dos and don’ts of this key role from a 6th generation miner.

What a year! Voters in the Hunter Valley sent coal miner ‘Big Dan’ Repacholi to Canberra, the national energy grid became big news, and the Albanese Government passed its first batch of Industrial Relations laws. Sadly this year we also lost ‘living legend of the Illawarra’, Fred Moore. This episode we look back on the highs and lows of 2022.

When BHP tried to dud their apprentices at Peak Downs, Saraji, Goonyella Riverside & Blackwater out of maternity leave, Jenna Saunders sprung into action. Thanks to Jenna, apprentices like Paige Martin can give her newborn baby Nova the best possible start in life. It’s one of the reasons Jenna won Queensland delegate of the year.

Shotfirers, or chargers as they’re known in hard rock mines, handle dangerous explosives every day. So it’s an action packed job. But how can getting your shotfirer ticket also be a great career move? And how does the job differ in metalliferous mines? We speak to Greg Braes who’s spent 32 years mining silver, zinc and lead in Broken Hill.

Just in time for Labour Day; The Coal Creek War of 1891, where a Tennessee mining company sacked its workers, tore down their homes and brought in prisoners to replace them. What happened next wasn’t pretty. Hear this and many other stories from author Kim Kelly.

Ten teams from the Lithgow, Moolarben and Gunnedah districts recently battled it out at the Western Mines Rescue Competition. We followed the team from Springvale as they strove for glory. Who took out best team? You’ll have to listen to find out…

What would it take to get your bum in the seat of a 6000 tonne, 24 storey dragline excavator? This episode you’ll find out what it’s like to drive one of these monsters and what skills you need to do it.

What’s driving the east coast ‘energy crisis’? General President Tony Maher gives us his take. And we find out how power station workers in Western Australia are managing a ‘just transition’ for their families and communities as the government announces the coal fired power stations in the state will close by 2029.

Members at arguably the most famous coal mine in Australia - the Carmichael open cut in Queensland - feel dudded. Not only is the pay terrible but safety and COVID procedures are pretty crook too. And the mob in control, MacKellar, are fond of saying ‘we’re the reserve grade bush footy team who landed in the NRL’. Now, workers are getting organised for a better deal. We find out more.

Third generation coal miner, Moranbah local and Labor Party candidate for the seat of Capricornia Russell Robertson talks about ‘Same Job, Same Pay’, the betrayal of coal miners by the Nats and One Nation and his plans to beef up health services and social housing in central Queensland.

This Federal election, the Mining and Energy Union is campaigning for Same Job Same Pay laws to end the pay discrimination between labour hire coal miners and permanent employees. Labor’s Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke explains how Same Job Same Pay would work

Unionists in the Illawarra are celebrating the life of Mining and Energy Union life member Fred Moore - who passed in January - just nine months short of his 100th birthday. Fred started mining at 14 and was an advocate for women’s rights, a supporter of the local Aboriginal community and a workers’ rights activist.

It’s time to get excited if you live in Cessnock, Muswellbrook or Singleton because you get to vote for a coal miner at the coming Federal Election. Five time Olympian and Mining & Energy Union member Dan Repacholi is running in the Hunter to ensure mining families get a fair shake of the sauce bottle.

Working 6 days a week, 12 hours a day might seem crazy but for 1,100 Alabama coal miners it’s their reality. They’ve been on strike since April Fool’s Day - but this is no joke - the faceless private equity firms which operate their mines have zero conscience and are more interested in recruiting strike breakers than talking to their workforce.