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Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999
sec.275AAProtection from reprisal
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### sec.275AA Protection from reprisal
A person must not cause, or attempt or conspire to cause, detriment to another person because, or in the belief that, the other person—
has made a complaint, or in any other way has raised, a coal mine safety issue; or
has contacted or given help to an official in relation to a coal mine safety issue.
Maximum penalty—1,000 penalty units.
An attempt to cause detriment includes an attempt to induce a person to cause detriment.
A contravention of subsection (1) is a reprisal or the taking of a reprisal.
A ground mentioned in subsection (1) as the ground for a reprisal is the unlawful ground for the reprisal.
For the contravention to happen, it is sufficient if the unlawful ground is a substantial ground for the act or omission that is the reprisal, even if there is another ground for the act or omission.
This section does not limit or otherwise affect the operation of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 , chapter 4 , part 1 in relation to reprisals.
In this section—
coal mine safety issue means an issue about the safety or health of a person or persons while at a coal mine or as a result of coal mining operations.
detriment includes—
personal injury or prejudice to safety; and
property damage or loss; and
intimidation or harassment; and
adverse discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment about career, profession, employment, trade or business; and
financial loss; and
damage to reputation, including, for example, personal, professional or business reputation.
s 275AA ins 2009 No. 16 s 11
amd 2010 No. 38 s 78 sch 3 ; 2020 No. 14 s 15A ; 2024 No. 34 s 95
(sec.275AA-ssec.1) A person must not cause, or attempt or conspire to cause, detriment to another person because, or in the belief that, the other person— has made a complaint, or in any other way has raised, a coal mine safety issue; or has contacted or given help to an official in relation to a coal mine safety issue. Maximum penalty—1,000 penalty units.
(sec.275AA-ssec.2) An attempt to cause detriment includes an attempt to induce a person to cause detriment.
(sec.275AA-ssec.3) A contravention of subsection (1) is a reprisal or the taking of a reprisal.
(sec.275AA-ssec.4) A ground mentioned in subsection (1) as the ground for a reprisal is the unlawful ground for the reprisal.
(sec.275AA-ssec.5) For the contravention to happen, it is sufficient if the unlawful ground is a substantial ground for the act or omission that is the reprisal, even if there is another ground for the act or omission.
(sec.275AA-ssec.6) This section does not limit or otherwise affect the operation of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 , chapter 4 , part 1 in relation to reprisals.
(sec.275AA-ssec.7) In this section— coal mine safety issue means an issue about the safety or health of a person or persons while at a coal mine or as a result of coal mining operations. detriment includes— personal injury or prejudice to safety; and property damage or loss; and intimidation or harassment; and adverse discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment about career, profession, employment, trade or business; and financial loss; and damage to reputation, including, for example, personal, professional or business reputation.
- (a) has made a complaint, or in any other way has raised, a coal mine safety issue; or
- (b) has contacted or given help to an official in relation to a coal mine safety issue.
- (a) personal injury or prejudice to safety; and
- (b) property damage or loss; and
- (c) intimidation or harassment; and
- (d) adverse discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment about career, profession, employment, trade or business; and
- (e) financial loss; and
- (f) damage to reputation, including, for example, personal, professional or business reputation.