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Ardent Leisure pleads guilty over 2016 Dreamworld ride deaths

Ardent Leisure pleads guilty over 2016 Dreamworld ride deaths
July 29, 2020

Ardent Leisure, owners of Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld, have pleaded guilty to three charges relating to the deaths of four people in 2016.

Charged with three counts of Failure to Comply with Health and Safety Duty, Category 2, under the Queensland Health and Safety Act in relation to the fatalities, Ardent Leisure today admitted to failing to comply with its health and safety duty, exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death.

Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi died when their raft on the Thunder River Rapids Ride collided with an empty raft and flipped on 25th October 2016.

Two children, aged 10 and 12 years, were on the same raft but managed to escape.

The Coronial inquest into the four deaths made findings of a series of failures at the theme park, including safety and maintenance systems that the Coroner described as "rudimentary at best" and "frighteningly unsophisticated".

In a brief appearance in the Southport Magistrates Court today, the company's legal representative Bruce Hodgkinson SC told Magistrate Michelle Dooley that Ardent Leisure instructed him to plead guilty to all three charges.

Formal arraignment will take place in the same Court on 28th September with the maximum penalty for each breach being $1.5 million - $4.5 million in total.

Outside Court, Hodgkinson said the matter would be an ongoing process, advising "we have entered the pleas and we will comply with all the Court's orders."

Beyond the health and safety breaches, Ardent Leisure is facing multiple separate compensation claims, including witnesses, staff and emergency first responders.

Commenting in relation to their clients, Shine Lawyers national practice leader Melissa O'Neill stated "there were four lives lost - $4.5 million in criminal charges, which may or may not be paid by a liability insurer, is simply not enough

"Clients that we are acting for are never going to recover from what they saw that day.

"It was one of the most difficult things that a person can go through."

There is also a separate class action by law firm Piper Alderman, on behalf of Ardent Leisure's shareholders.

Piper Alderman Partner Greg Whyte said they were alleging Ardent Leisure misled investors about "safety measures and other matters".

Image: Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozi Araghi and Cindy Low died while riding Dreamworld's Thunder River Rapids Ride on 25th October 2016.

Related Articles

28th July 2020 - Indigenous leaders worried about future of Dreamworld Corroboree precinct

21st July 2020 - Ardent Leisure faces three charges over 2016 Dreamworld ride fatalities

10th July 2020 - Coronavirus impact sees Dreamworld make 50 positions redundant

24th June 2020 - Shutdown impacts Dreamworld’s plans for construction of new rollercoaster

18th June 2020 - Ardent Leisure shareholders launch class action over Dreamworld deaths

5th June 2020 - Ardent and Village Roadshow look for early reopening of Gold Coast theme parks

25th February 2020 - Ardent Leisure shares fall after critical Coroner’s report into Dreamworld tragedy

25th February 2020 - Queensland Government announces acceptance of Coroner’s findings into 2016 Dreamworld ride deaths

25th February 2020 - Ardent Leisure faces possible prosecution over 2016 ride deaths

24th February 2020 - Coroner’s report on Dreamworld fatalities exposes Ardent Leisure to prosecution for multiple safety breaches

8th February 2020 - Dreamworld permanently closes Rocky Hollow Log Ride

7th February 2020 - Dreamworld enjoys successful peak season

30th January 2020 - TAFE Queensland and Dreamworld partner to deliver wildlife conservation training

18th January 2020 - South east Queensland deluge closes Dreamworld, Movie World and Wet’n'Wild Gold Coast

21st December 2019 - New waterslides open at Dreamworld’s WhiteWater World

15th December 2019 - Dreamworld kicks off 38th anniversary celebrations

10th December 2019 - Dreamworld appointment to drive new entertainment activities

29th November 2019 - Dreamworld launches its ‘Biggest’ Summer campaign

28th June 2019 - Ardent Leisure facing potential $80 million liability in wake of Dreamworld inquest

22nd February 2019 - Ardent Leisure losses rise as guests fail to return to Dreamworld

12th October 2018 - Dreamworld inquest delay as Ardent Leisure accused of being slow to hand over documents

22nd August 2018 - Ardent Leisure losses grow as Dreamworld’s value declines by $75 million

4th April 2017 - Ardent Leisure Chief Executive ‘appeared to be ducking for cover’ following Dreamworld fatalities

29th October 2016 - Queensland Government to undertake ‘safety blitz’ on theme parks


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