Tasmania jumping castle tragedy: Families’ anger at investigation after six children died

Parents of the Tasmanian jumping castle victims are furious after hearing more details about the legal process, and the maximum penalty for the incident that killed six children.

Special Investigation: Parents of the Tasmanian jumping castle victims are furious that the maximum penalty for the incident that killed six children is only a $150,000 fine if the operating company is found guilty.

The Tasmanian Department of Public Prosecutions held a meeting with parents in Devonport on Tuesday to explain the charges laid against jumping castle provider Taz-Zorb.

There were angry scenes as parents demanded to know why no action was taken against the Education Department for failing to undertake checks on the jumping castle operator.

There’s just over two weeks left for charges to be laid against any person or company, with the two-year anniversary coming on December 16.

The Hillcrest Primary School incident led to an outpouring of grief. Picture: Brodie Weeding

Chace Harrison, 11, Peter Dodt, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, and Zane Mellor, 12 were killed when the Crayon Playland jumping castle they were playing on was lifted in 10m into the air in high winds.

John Medcraft’s son Beau was also on the jumping castle but escaped with serious injuries to his arms and legs.

Beau Medcraft survived with serious injuries. Picture: Jason Edwards

Beau Medcraft recovering a week after the incident. Picture: Supplied

Mr Medcraft, who attended Tuesday’s meeting along with parents and grandparents of the children who were killed, said he was disappointed with the DPP’s response.

“I am so wild hearing from so many that the Hillcrest tragedy was an accident when it was an avoidable incident,” he said.

Jye Sheehan.

Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones.

Questions were raised during the meeting about whether Taz-Zorb had been signed in at the school before setting up the jumping castle and inflatable zorb balls that blew across the school’s oval.

And parents asked whether the jumping castle was set up with the correct amount of pegs, or if the operator needed to find instructions on how to set it up on YouTube.

“The Education Department has no accountability, nor does anyone that held a senior position on the day have any accountability,” he added.

The school had used Taz-Zorb for rides at a fair two months before the fatal incident.

Peter Dodt.

Zane Mellor.

But Mr Medcraft said that did not mean that the company was reputable, saying he expected that the school would still have done checks before allowing them to set up on the oval.

Taz-Zorb was charged under section 32a of Tasmania’s Work Health and Safety Act, 2012.

The maximum penalty for exposing someone to “risk of death of serious injury” is a “fine not exceeding $150,000.”

Taz-Zorb’s insurance company would potentially cover any fine imposed.

Chace Harrison.

Addison Stewart.

Parents were also concerned there are no laws in Tasmania preventing the operators from setting up a new amusement company once the court case was complete.

WorkSafe Tasmania said in a statement: “The Work Health and Safety Act aims to ensure the health and safety of workers in Tasmania and sets out the duties owed by a range of parties to achieve that aim, particularly persons conducting a business or undertaking.

“The Act does not regulate whether or not a person can operate a business in Tasmania.”

WorkSafe has refused to hand over documents to Tasmanian coroner Olivia McTaggart, which has delayed an inquest until after the criminal charges were heard.

The Tasmanian Department of Public Prosecutions said “as the matter is before the courts it is not appropriate to make any comments.”

[e-mail]

Originally published as Tasmania jumping castle tragedy: Families’ anger at investigation after six children died