Beaconsfield mine 'under financial pressure' before fatal rockfall
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Workers were apparently told that their jobs could be lost. (Getty Images: Ian Waldie, file photo)
Beaconsfield miners have told a Tasmanian inquest they felt the Beaconsfield gold mine was under financial pressure in the months leading up to the Anzac Day rockfall two years ago.
The miners have been giving evidence in the opening week of the inquest into the death of miner Larry Knight.
A statement from miner Chris Mackay was today tendered as evidence to the inquest.
Mr Mackay said he felt the earth move 925 metres below ground just four months before Mr Knight died in the same area.
He said the area was closed down after his near-miss.
When it was re-opened he was told to return, but felt uneasy about it.
He said some miners felt pressured to find gold and that, "management would always be on our backs about production; constantly niggling us".
Yesterday rescued miner Brant Webb told the inquest the mine was always crying poor.
He said in a meeting with management, workers were shown graphs and told that if profits went below a certain line, their jobs would be lost.
