Muswellbrook police have dismissed claims online that two men entered the Bengalla Mine site near Muswellbrook seeking information on explosives.
The reports were circling online after One Nation’s Stuart Bonds shared an image to Facebook.
Police say one of the men was a former employee and both presented themselves to Waratah Police Station for questioning.
Statement from police below.
Officers from the Hunter Valley Police District have investigated following an alleged trespassing incident at a mining site on Bengalla Road, Muswellbrook, on Saturday 21 February 2026.
Following inquiries, two men were later spoken to in relation to the matter at Waratah Police Station yesterday (Sunday 22 February 2026).
Police are aware of social media claims suggesting the men questioned staff about security procedures and explosives at the site. At this stage, investigators say there is no evidence to support those claims.
Hunter Valley Police maintain strong working relationships with all mines in the region, which routinely report incidents as they occur.
Stuart Bonds, One Nation candidate for Hunter meanwhile has responded, saying that regardless of intent, trespassing onto a mine site is suspicious.
“It’s a very serious claim, right? And the claim could be absolutely false.
“It does seem highly suspicious, though, if there were guys out there after hours looking to talk to management or security, whatever the claims are, and they’re former employees. They would know you can’t just enter a mine site and meet up with those people without a prior meeting being arranged, especially at that time of night.”
Bonds also refuted and claims of racial profiling.
“If there were men wearing jeans and shorts walking around a mine site, I would have posted exactly the same thing.”
