With Todd Russell and Brant Webb now above ground attention will soon turn to two major unanswered questions: will the Beaconsfield Gold Mine reopen, and is anyone to blame for the disaster which trapped the two men and killed a colleague?
Seismologists believe the mini-quake on April the 25th, which triggered the rockfall and trapped the men, was caused by the mine’s operations.
It followed another quake measuring 1.6 on the Richter scale last October and another rock fall, which led to a review of mining practices at Beaconsfield by mine operators Allstate Explorations.
As well as the coronial inquiry into Larry Knight’s death, unions want a full, independent investigation into the collapse, one that will include whether company assurances to change practices and make the miner safer were honoured.
"The union has a very strong view that what has happened shouldn't have happened," Australian Workers' Union (AWU) national secretary Bill Shorten said.
Uncertain future
Tasmanian Resources Minister and Deputy Premier Bryan Green said that any investigation into what went wrong could take "months" and the mine would stay closed for the duration. The mine’s closure will add to the uncertainty for its 120-strong workforce and for Beaconsfield, a town which largely depends on the mine.
Terry Long, of the Tasmanian Minerals Council, also said the Beaconsfield mine's management would have to answer some serious questions.
For the moment, the Beaconsfield gold mine’s future remains uncertain. The Tasmanian industry body says the highly technical mining industry will find a way to re-open it, but if it does close Prime Minister John Howard says the federal government will help the town.
“I have indicated that if in the aftermath, for example if there are dislocations to the community because of the closure of the mine, the federal government will stand ready to do what it should do to assist the community," Mr Howard said.
"I've already appointed a federal government representative to serve on a local committee," he added.
West Tamar mayor Barry Easther says he is "fairly positive" about the mine’s long-term future, but AWU national vice president Paul Howes said a shut-down was a "real prospect."
A government, mine and union taskforce has been set up to try to ensure the community has a viable future if the mine closes for good.
In the short-term mine managers have already announced that all employees will continue to be paid as normal for a month after the trapped pair were rescued. The AWU said the offer was "a start" – but that the plan does not cover contractors, and job prospects for all employees remain uncertain when the month is up.
Other Tasmanian mines have offered to employ some of the Beaconsfield miners for about three months, but the AWU has expressed its reservations at that plan as it would force some locals to live away from their families.
If Beaconsfield gold mine continues to operate, investment bank Macquarie has said that it would set up a trust fund for mine employees that could return millions of dollars by effectively making the workers shareholders.
If the mine doesn't re-open, the bank will allow Allstate's share of employee entitlements - 51 per cent - to be paid out ahead of any debts it is owed.