Again Faster
ABOUT Again Faster is a Brisbane based, Australian owned supplier of strength and conditioning and functional fitness equipment. With nearly 10 years experience in the Australian market, we are…
read moreAn inquest into the deaths of six Tasmanian children in the 2021 Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy is still unable to proceed following today’s Supreme Court decision ruling against investigation documents from the workplace safety regulator, WorkSafe Tasmania, being provided to the Coroner.
This places the coronial investigation on hold - almost two years on from the incident which occurred in December 2021 in which six children died, with three others injured, when a gust of wind lifted an inflatable jumping castle into the air during end-of-year celebrations at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, in the state's north-west.
Justice Gregory Geason today ruled against investigation documents from the workplace safety regulator, WorkSafe Tasmania, being provided to the Coroner.
In February this year, WorkSafe Tasmania refused to provide its report to the Coroner because it believed it would prejudice "any potential prosecutions" under work, health and safety laws.
At the time, Coroner Olivia McTaggart said the decision was "unfortunate" and adjourned the inquest pending an appeal in the Tasmanian Supreme Court in April.
Explaining that because she did not have expert opinion and engineer reports, she could not properly investigate, Coroner McTaggart advised “they are crucial to issues such as causation.
"In the absence of that material, the inquest cannot proceed."
Coroner McTaggart had previously hoped the inquest would be heard in the first half of this year.
However, today’s decision by the Supreme Court once again denies the Coroner from accessing the documents until the end of the limitation period for prosecutions under workplace safety laws - which expires in December - or the end of any criminal cases that may be brought.
According to the ABC, in his decision today, Justice Geason said he was "satisfied the disclosure of the identified records" could "impede the ability of Work Health Safety, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in turn, to fulfil its function of effectively investigating possible offences".
Justice Geason added there was a "real possibility" that "harm to the public interest" could arise from the documents being disclosed before the deadlines he set.
Image: Six children died in a jumping castle incident at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport in 2021.
22nd February 2023 - Inquest into Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle deaths cannot commence as WorkSafe refuses to release findings to coroner
14th February 2023 - Yet to be sentenced bouncy castle arsonist lives in ‘constant fear’ while in prison cell
10th February 2023 - Small Business Ombudsman continues to back AALARA’s DMF plans for the amusement and attractions industry
19th October 2022 - Tragedy of Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle deaths acknowledged by Tasmanian Coroner
4th February 2022 - AALARA sets up Safe Operation of Inflatables Sub Committee
30th December 2021 - Workplace Health and Safety Queensland issues reminder on key safety controls for landborne inflatables
20th December 2021 - Sixth child dies as a result of Tasmanian jumping castle tragedy as operator shuts down website
17th December 2021 - Tasmanian authorities introduce schools jumping castle ban
16th December 2021 - Five children dead after inflatable jumping castle blown into air at Tasmanian school
28th October 2021 - Former jumping castle business owner pleads guilty to arson campaign charges
26th August 2021 - ASTM International Standard for inflatable attractions to be adopted into 2024 International Fire Code
4th February 2020 - WorkSafe Queensland prosecution results in $50,000 fine following inflatable amusement ride injury
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