Ardent Leisure facing three charges over Dreamworld tragedy

Theme park operator Ardent is facing three charges over the deaths of four people at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast in 2016.

The Thunder River Ride being removed after the tragedy. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Dreamworld’s owner Ardent Leisure has been charged with breaching workplace health and safety laws in the lead-up to the tragic ride malfunction that led to the deaths of four people in 2016.

Queensland Work Health and Safety Prosecutor Aaron Guilfoyle on Tuesday lodged three charges against Ardent Leisure Limited in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Each of the category two charges carries a maximum penalty of $1.5 million.

It stems from an investigation brought after the coronial inquiry into the deaths of Roozbeh Araghi, Luke Dorsett, Kate Goodchild and Cindy Low on the popular Thunder River Rapids Ride at the Gold Coast theme park.

The four victims died after their raft collided with another raft stuck on a mechanical conveyor, causing them to fall onto the conveyor and suffer horrific injuries.

In a statement, the Office of the Work Health and Safety Prosecutor said there were no further charges expected to be laid against the company.

“Ardent Leisure has been charged with three offences under s.32 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, for failing to comply with its health and safety duty under the Act and exposing individuals to a risk of serious injury or death.

“Each of the three charges allege the company failed to comply with its primary safety duty under s.19(2) of the Act.”

The prosecutor has alleged the company failed in its duty to provide and maintain “safe plant and structures” and “systems of work”.

It also failed to provide “information, training, instruction or supervision that was necessary to protect all persons from risks to their health and safety arising from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking,” the OQHSP said.

The charges will be mentioned in the Southport Magistrates Court on July 29.

Coroner James McDougall was scathing in February in his assessment of the company’s culture and practices in the lead up to the incident.

He cited a litany of safety breaches, including the failure to do a proper risk assessment of the ride in the 30 years since it began operating, and urged the Queensland government to investigate whether the company should face prosecution.

Ardent Leisure released a statement to the ASX acknowledging the charges.

“There has been considerable change at Dreamworld over the last few years as was acknowledged by the coroner in his report,” the statement said.

“Dreamworld has taken substantive and proactive steps to improve safety across the entire park and continues to enhance existing systems and practices, as well as adopt new ones, as we develop and implement our safety case in accordance with the Queensland government’s new major amusement park and safety regulations.

“The new leadership team is committed to continuing to improve and enhance the safety systems and practices with the aim of becoming a global industry leader in theme park safety and operations.”