Top End Safari Camp, Matt Wright and Kaia Wright charged over airboat crash

NT WorkSafe has handed Matt Wright, wife Kaia and their company Top End Safari Camp fresh charges in relation to a boat crash that injured eight people.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright leaving the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory at Darwin alongside his wife Kaia. Picture: Zizi Averill

NT WorkSafe has handed Matt Wright and wife Kaia fresh charges after one of their Top End Safari Camp airboats crashed injuring eight people in 2023.

In May 2023, 26 tourists were passengers on two airboats as part of a day tour at a tourism safari camp located near Sweets Lagoon in Bynoe, south-west of Darwin.

Half of the airboat passengers were children under 18, and the tourists were part of a larger group tour consisting of 102 tourists and two group tour staff at the safari camp.

One of the airboats, named Gale Force, crashed into the base of a semi-submerged tree with such force the 13 passengers were ejected from their seats.

Eight of those passengers were injured as a result, with one suffering a fractured skull and significant scalp laceration.

NT WorkSafe alleges Gale Force operated without any seat belts, lifejackets, a lifebuoy or a first aid kit on board, while the airboat’s radio wasn’t working on the day of the incident.

These omissions breach the airboat manufacturer’s Airboat Operation, Safety and Maintenance Manual, as well as the company’s own safety management system.

It’s alleged that despite their safety management being authorised in December 2021, the company had not implemented any risk assessments or safety plans for airboat operations in its safety management system until after the May 2023 incident.

WorkSafe further alleged both airboats exceeded the maximum passenger limits detailed in their Certificate of Operation issued by the national agency responsible for maritime safety.

As such, NT WorkSafe charged the company, Top End Safari Camp, with four breaches including failing to ensure health and safety of its worker and failing to ensure the health and safety of the airboat passengers.

It also charged the company with failing to ensure a work environment without risks to health and safety, failing to provide and maintain a safe system of work and failing to ensure the airboat was without risks.

Both of the company’s directors, Matthew Wright and Kaia Wright, were also charged with two counts of breaching their duty of officers and breaching their primary duty of care.

If found guilty of all charges Top End Safari Camp Pty Ltd faces a maximum fine of $4m, while Mr and Mrs Wright face combined penalties of up to $700k.

The case is listed for a mention in the Darwin Local Court on December 5.