Centre NATS organisers facing legal action over 2017 fire injuries

The NT Motor Accidents Commission is suing the organisers of Alice Springs’ Red Centre NATS in the Supreme Court after several spectators were burnt at the event in 2017

THE NT Motor Accidents Commission is suing the organisers of Alice Springs’ Red Centre NATS in the Supreme Court after several spectators were burnt at the event in 2017.

In a writ filed with the court, the MAC claims Car Festivals Pty Ltd and the government owned NT Major Events Company were aware of the risk of a fire that ultimately injured 14 people on September 3.

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“The defendants owed duty of care to the spectators to minimise the risk of harm to them from fire during the burnout competition,” the document reads.

“The defendants breached their duty of care to the spectators by permitting the spectators to view the burnout competition in close proximity to the burnout pad in the absence of a fence or barrier to contain any fire caused by motor vehicle to the burnout pad and/or prevent such a fire from entering the designated area,.”

The MAC pays compensation to Territorians injured in motor vehicle accidents and is seeking reimbursement for the injured spectators’ medical bills which already stretch into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

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In 2019, NT WorkSafe accepted enforceable undertakings from both defendants to make safety improvements to the tune of $1.2m following the fire.

A formal defence from either of the organisers is yet to be filed with the court.

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