Mine's money woes 'misinterpreted'
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The former underground manager at the Beaconsfield gold mine says presentations he gave to workers about its financial position before a fatal rockfall were misinterpreted.
The inquest into the death of Larry Knight has heard evidence from miners that underground manager Pat Ball told them the mine would be shut down if it fell behind in production for two months.
Mr Ball told the inquest those comments were misunderstood.
He explained the presentation he gave to miners about the financial pressures on the mine but said the two months deadline was only an example, although some miners took it literally.
He said a comment made in a shift boss meeting on the month of the rockfall, that "it was a chance for us to make heroes of ourselves" was just a comment to inspire his troops and not an order to breach safety rules.
Mr Ball said the idea he put production before safety was ludicrous and insulting.
