Gold Coast‘s Dreamworld blocked the release of safety complaints leading up to ride tragedy

WORKER representatives raised concerns about the safety for staff and tourists at Dreamworld at least 18 months before the Thunder Rapids Ride tragedy but were denied all the records.

WORKER representatives raised concerns about the safety for staff and tourists at Dreamworld at least 18 months before the Thunder Rapids Ride tragedy, but were denied all the records.

The Australian Workers’ Union in a Right to Information application in April 2015 sought access to all safety records at the Gold Coast theme park going back to 2004.

The Justice Department, acting on behalf of the Office of Industrial Relations, agreed to give the AWU access to 304 pages.

But Dreamworld successfully objected, causing a lengthy appeal as it began enterprise bargaining with the union.

Floral tributes left on the front lawn of Dreamworld for the victims killed last year. Picture: Tim Marsden

The fight about releasing the safety records is revealed in the Best Practice Review of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland Report tabled in State Parliament this week.

In critical recommendations, the report said the Office of Industrial Relations should adopt a more “open and transparent” approach to releasing information.

The documents requested should be provided unless it jeopardised an investigation or prosecution, the report said.

Police attending the tragedy at Dreamworld.

AWU Queensland branch acting secretary Steve Baker said the report’s findings backed up the union’s concerns about access to information.

“We’re pleased the review has recognised the importance of Right to Information processes when it comes to dealing with safety issues,” he said.

“We’ve been calling for greater openness and transparency when it comes to safety matters that are in the public interest.

“Our primary concern with this issue is the safety of workers and the public at theme parks.”

The report said the Office of the Information Commissioner in July 2016 released its decision and in September, one month before the tragedy, provided 143 pages to the AWU.

“The 143 pages did not include a document which recorded a concern by the AWU in 2015 that Dreamworld had reduced the number of ride attendants on all its major amusement rides,” the report said.

AWU leader Steve Baker - our concern is safety. Picture Mike Batterham

A month after the tragedy, the AWU made another attempt to get all of the documents.

In December, the union finally obtained more than 93 pages of documents, some relating to historic incidents and new information including its own complaint.

The Bulletin detailed the safety incidents provided in those RTI documents and reported that 10 claims had been filed against the park since 2010.

“After the disaster, a lot of reporting was about mechanical structures. Our concern was attendant operators,” a Dreamworld source said.

A police officer takes a look at a raft that is used by the Thunder River Rapid ride. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Whistleblowers became concerned that numbers of staff on rides were being reduced in late 2014.

“It really became an issue for us around February and March 2015. You’d have the Cyclone rollercoaster and one kid operating a 13-storey machine,” the source said.

An 18-year-old woman, on the first day of her job, hit the emergency stop button on the Rapids ride when the disaster occurred.

In a statement, a Dreamworld spokesperson last night said: “Dreamworld received the WHSQ report this morning and we are giving it our full consideration. We understand the Government will be consulting with industry on the legislative recommendations and we look forward to participating in this process.”

Dreamworld - young boy places flowers at Dreamworld the day after the tragedy where four people were killed. Picture: Nigel Hallett