Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Commerce regarding the penalty imposed on Paspaley Pearling Company for the death of Jarrod Hampton and requests government support for a coronial inquest. The Minister declines to appeal the sentence and states the coroner is considering an inquest.

AnsweredQoN 1260Legislative Council
Asked
17 November 2015
Portfolio
Commerce

QuestionView source ↗

PASPALEY
PEARLING COMPANY — JARROD HAMPTON
1260. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the
decision made in the Broome Magistrate's Court to fine Paspaley Pearling
Company $60 000 after it pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to provide and
maintain a safe working environment in relation to the death of young pearl
diver Jarrod Hampton in April 2012.
(1) Will the government, in view of the low
penalty that was imposed, appeal to the court against the severity of the
sentence; and, if not, why not?
(2) Will the state government support the
call by Jarrod Hampton's parents for a coronial inquest into their son's
tragic death at work; and, if not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question.
(1) No, there
is no basis to appeal as the penalty is within the court's acceptable
discretionary range and is comparable to those recently imposed on others for
the same offence.
(2) The
decision to proceed to a full coronial inquiry is currently being considered by
the coroner. It would not be appropriate for me, as Attorney General; Minister
for Commerce to comment on or intervene in the decisions of our judiciary.

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