Dreamworld tragedy: emotions spill over amid safety laws probe

Police are probing potential breaches of Queensland’s safety laws at Dreamworld.

A grief-stricken man is comforted at Dreamworld yesterday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Management at Dreamworld face the risk of jail as investigators are probing potential breaches of Queensland’s safety laws in the investigation into Tuesday’s deaths of four people at the theme park.

As today’s planned reopening of the theme park was cancelled last night, it can be revealed the preliminary investigation is focusing on breaches of the Workplace Health and Safety Act.

Management overseeing the maintenance and operation of the Thunder River Rapids Ride could face up to five years in jail if convicted of any breaches found to have led to the deaths after their raft flipped.

Engineers involved in the investigation are understood to have retested a water pump and emergency stop button on the 30-year-old ride as a possible cause for the raft flipping over when it hit a raft in front. Government inspectors conducted safety audits of rides across the Gold Coast’s theme parks, which are largely self-regulated, as heartbreaking details emerged of Tuesday’s scene.

Gillian Turner, the mother-in-law of victim Kate Goodchild, ­described how her son, David Goodchild, who had been waiting near the ride’s exit, cradled his dying wife. “My son managed to reach his partner ... who died in his arms while his 12-year-old daughter looked on screaming in the background,” she said in a statement. “I would like to believe that my 12-year-old granddaughter was saved so she could tell her little sister what a wonderful mum Kate was. We’re all numb. We’re all in shock.”

Ms Turner’s granddaughter, Ebony, was aboard the raft but managed to escape after it flipped.

As well as Ms Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett, his partner Roozi Araghi and Sydney-based New Zealand expat Cindy Low died in the incident. Ms Low’s 10-year-old son also escaped after being thrown from the raft in what police have called a “near miracle”.

As the publicly listed Ardent Lesiure, which owns Dreamworld, yesterday defended the park’s safety record, the theme park ­denied reports that a teenager was in charge of the ride at the time of the tragedy.

Dreamworld said an “experienced operator’’ was running the ride, which was also attended by an 18-year-old, when the raft carry­ing the six passengers ­careered into a stalled raft on the approach to the departure platform.

The 30-year-old ride passed its annual safety check only last month under a regulatory system that does not require government officials to inspect the machinery for registration.

Instead, private engineers ­engaged by theme parks write a ­report and send it to regulator Workplace Health and Safety Queensland for a desktop audit.

Sources said police had begun interviewing people at Dreamworld on the day of the tragedy, amid reports the ride had had a series of mechanical problems, leading to its temporary shutdown.

Late yesterday, Dreamworld confirmed it was not going ahead with its partial “memorial day’’ ­reopening today of the park, of which the gate takings were to be donated to the Red Cross.

The reopening had been announced on Wednesday night, sparking growing concerns among senior police and government offic­ials involved in the investigation. After a meeting with police yesterday, Dreamworld issued a statement confirming the postponement of the reopening.

“Dreamworld has been advised by Queensland Police Services that we are unable to proceed with tomorrow’s memorial service as planned,’’ the statement said.

“Obviously the integrity of the coronial investigation is of paramount importance and postponing the service will give QPS the time it needs to conduct this investigation.’’

However, a Queensland police spokesman last night said Dreamworld’s claim was not accurate.

“Unfortunately the statement was not an accurate description of how the decision was made to not reopen the park,” the spokesman said.

“It’s best to contact Dreamworld to seek clarification.”

The Australian has sought clarification from a spokeswoman for Dreamworld.

A statement is expected next Monday over the date of the park’s reopening and planned memorial service.

Ardent Leisure chairman Neil Balnaves told shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting yesterday that the Thunder River Rapids Ride would not be reopened until after the coronial investigation was completed.

It can also be revealed that Ardent Leisure Group was to host a breakfast as part of Queensland Labor’s state conference on the Gold Coast this weekend but pulled out after the tragedy.

The breakfast, part of Labor’s fundraising business partnership program, was to take place at Q1 Skypoint’s Seventy 7 cafe. About 100 people including state ministers, federal MPs and senators were to be in attendance. The breakfast will now take place at Jupiters Casino, where the conference is taking place.