08.10 pm, Saturday November 21 2009

Brother searches for Beaconsfield truth

23:45 AEST Mon Jul 9 2007
AAP
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The brother of killed Beaconsfield miner Larry Knight has spoken out about his search for answers almost 15 months after a rockfall claimed his sibling's life.

Larry Knight, 44, was killed in the northern Tasmanian gold mine collapse on Anzac Day last year.

His workmates Todd Russell and Brant Webb were trapped for two weeks almost a kilometre underground before their dramatic rescue.

Shane Knight has told the ABC's Australian Story that he is still searching for the truth about his younger brother's death.

"I think there's a lot of questions that have to be answered - and at the moment I don't think that's happening," he said.

Shane Knight said there were three major rockfalls at the Beaconsfield mine in the 18 months before the fatal collapse.

A mines inspector made recommendations to Beaconsfield Gold about improvements at the site but they were never enforced and major problems remained, he said.

"If there was improvements made in the system so that the safety issues were brought to the front we would have some faith in the system, but we have nothing at the moment," Mr Knight said.

He is united in grief and frustration with the families of four other miners who were killed in accidents at Tasmanian mines.

Former Beaconsfield miner Garth Bonney's brother, Ray, died in 1999 when a piece of timber fell on him at the Hercules mine in Williamsford.

Two years later, Jarrod Jones, 23, and Matthew Lister, 24, died in a rockfall at the Renison Bell tin mine, near Rosebery.

The same mine claimed a third life in 2003 when Sidney Pearce, 43, died in another rockfall.

Jarrod's parents David and Debra Jones say three years after the double fatality an investigation into the accident has yet to conclude.

"If they'd held an inquest into Jarrod and Matthew's death in a decent time frame, maybe the next miner, Sidney Pearce ... wouldn't have been killed," Ms Jones said.

Mr Knight said the families of the victims had been treated appallingly.

"I feel like I am not alone. I'm looking for answers to my brother's death as these people are for their family members that they've lost."

An independent commission of inquiry is investigating the Beaconsfield disaster.

"All of those men that have been killed, we're not going to bring them back ... but hopefully we can put enough pressure on the system so that this doesn't happen next year to some other family," Mr Knight said.

 
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