SafeWork SA accused of lacking transparency and accountability in submissions to Independent Comission Against Corruption

RIDE operations have told ICAC SafeWork SA inspectors conducted “onerous and unstructured” safety assessments in the wake of the death of a child at the Royal Adelaide Show.

• SafeWork alleges safety errors on ride before tragedy
• Girl died after being flung from Adelaide Show ride
• ICAC told SafeWork inspectors at risk of corruption
• ICAC holds public hearings into SafeWork SA

ACCUSATIONS of a lack of transparency and accountability have been levelled at SafeWork SA in public submissions made to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

A submission by the Aus­tralian Amusement, Leisure and Recreation Association (AALARA), which represents operators of outdoor attractions, was critical of SafeWork inspectors’ handling of rides at the 2015 Royal Adelaide Show.

The association accuses SafeWork inspectors of spending excessive time on their inspections a year after eight-year-old Adelene Leong was killed when a ride failed at the 2014 Royal Adelaide Show.

The submission cites the “onerous and unstructured” safety assessment of rides at the 2015 Show, which it said could stretch over several days and were conducted by inspectors “unfamiliar” with the rides.

“We are being told by our members that they are not receiving a nationally consistent approach to compliance and enforcement,” AALARA president Dax Eddy wrote.

“As an industry we expected support, advice and guidance. We have received no advice or safety alerts.”

Mr Eddy wrote that an inspector shut down a ride in February 2016, based on an anonymous report of a “loud noise”.

The complaint is thought to have been made by a competitor to have the ride shut down.

In a separate submission, the Local Government Association called for reform to strengthen SafeWork SA’s jurisdiction and investigate allegations of bullying and inappropriate workplace behaviour.

“The inability of SafeWork SA to investigate bullying and harassment of workers where the offending conduct is by an elected member may expose workers to unsafe workplaces,” LGA SA acting chief executive Lisa Teburea said.

The Voice of Industrial Death action group also expressed frustration at how the agency dealt with victims and its “bloody-minded attitude”.

The Showmens Guild of South Australia also raised concerns about the agency “wasting” resources and having “inconsistent” inspections.

Commissioner Bruce Lander QC will continue public hearings next week after being told this month that safety officers had “near unfettered power”, putting them at risk of bribery and coercion.