Dreamworld’s former boss must provide answers

AS Dreamworld’s owner, Ardent Leisure, has consistently maintained, every recommendation to come from the inquest into the theme park’s Thunder River Rapid ride tragedy will be implemented

Deborah Thomas, the former chief executive of Ardent Leisure,

AS Dreamworld’s owner, Ardent Leisure, has consistently maintained, every recommendation to come from the inquest into the theme park’s Thunder River Rapid ride tragedy will be implemented. That is not only appropriate in the circumstances but important for a public that remains wary, even sceptical, of going back to the Gold Coast’s suite of theme parks. In fact, restoring public trust is crucial as the theme park industry moves forward. It’s also important for Ardent Leisure’s reputation and the peace of mind of victims’ families that its former chief executive, Deborah Thomas, be called to give evidence at the Dreamworld inquest.

As the public face of Ardent Leisure at the time of the tragedy, it was Ms Thomas who fielded the tough questions around safety and appropriate workplace protocols. Based on what the inquest has heard thus far, it would not be unfair to suggest that Dreamworld had ongoing, systemic deficiencies in the way it approached safety before the tragedy.

As the person in charge of the company at the time, the figurehead, it is not unreasonable to suggest that Ms Thomas has serious questions to answer on how a culture had developed under her watch where safety was clearly not its number one priority.

If she does not appear at the inquest – and that appears increasingly likely – the families of victims are entitled to ask why she wasn’t called to explain the company’s flawed safety regime. It’s arguable that the inquest will not be able to determine the true extent of allegations raised within the inquiry that Ardent Leisure had put profit before safety unless Ms Thomas is able to defend such a suggestion.

Instead, we’ve seen a conga line of safety managers and executives rolled out before the commission, one by one acknowledging that safety protocols were deficient.

In these circumstances, the buck stops with the bosses. Safety managers simply follow orders, whether it be on cutting budgets or reducing staff. This inquest and its safety recommendations have wider implications for the Gold Coast as a tourism destination. The Gold Coast has come to rely heavily – some say too heavily – on the theme park industry in the past 25 years.

As numbers have waned because of the Dreamworld tragedy, it has exposed a weakness in the market and demonstrates the lack of product diversity that has crippled tourism growth in the southeast corner. Gone are the days when the Gold Coast can simply rely on its beaches and theme parks. It begs the question on why successive State Governments have failed to rubber stamp a new cruise ship terminal and cablecar project on the Gold Coast. It puts added scrutiny on whether State Cabinet will approve a second casino on the Gold Coast.

The lack of political will to transition the Gold Coast out of its post-Commonwealth Games hangover is troubling.

That’s why the Dreamworld inquest and its final report and recommendations are so crucial to drawing a line in the sand. The Dreamworld tragedy, which claimed the lives of four people, was a black day for Australians.

Theme parks are where happy memories are made, not where people die. Four innocent people lost their lives at a park where millions of Australians had enjoyed family joy over the past quarter of a century.

It hit home hard because it could have been any of us. Ardent Leisure has already made significant and tangible changes to the way it does business. Regulatory improvements are obvious and it has appointed senior personnel with extensive experience in adhering to stringent safety standards. But for the sake of victims’ families and transparency, the company’s former boss, Ms Thomas, must give evidence. For her not to appear at the inquest would leave important and serious questions unanswered.

SALUTE TO OUR BRAVE MILITARY

THE festive season is a wonderful time of the year to spend with family and friends, but it takes on even greater significance for the men and women who serve this great country.

The sacrifice of long periods away from their loved ones is difficult and challenging, especially in the theatre of war where danger is ever present.

Yesterday, Brisbane-based Australian Army troops returned home after deployment to Iraq on Operation Okra. Family and friends met them at the airport, greeting loved ones returning from the Task Group Taji-7 training mission. About 300 Australian troops have completed a six-month deployment to Iraq, training elements of the Iraqi Army to ensure it is well positioned to help secure and stabilise areas cleared of ISIS.

The contingent formed part of Task Group Taji-7 and worked alongside members from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Singapore, at the Taji Military Complex near Baghdad.

Task Group Taji-7 trained more than 4500 Iraqi Army soldiers and also improved the ability of the Baghdad Fighting School, an Iraqi Army training institution, to deliver its own training.

This is dangerous and intense work and essential, as the Allied Forces work to stabilise the region from the threat of ISIS.

We salute our defence force personnel and thank them for their service. They embody the true spirit of Australians – courage, dedication to their country, and a spirit of freedom that is the envy of the rest of the world.

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