In 2016, four visitors to Queensland’s Dreamworld, on the Gold Coast, were killed on the Thunder River Rapids ride at the theme park.
On Tuesday, Queensland’s work health and safety prosecutor, Aaron Guilfoyle, filed three charges against Dreamworld’s parent company, Ardent Leisure, under the Work Health and Safety Act. The charges include three counts of failing to comply with health and safety legislation and exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death.
It is alleged that Ardent Leisure failed to provide and maintain safe plant and structures and systems of work, and information, training, instruction or supervision necessary to protect people from risk.
At the inquest in February 2020, Coroner James McDougall found there was a “systemic failure” across the theme park’s safety protocols. In particular, he found that there was no thorough engineering risk assessment of the 30 year old ride.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $1.5 million. The matter is listed for mention at Southport Magistrates Court in Southport on the Gold Coast on 29 July 2020.
