❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Attorney General regarding the delay in the coronial inquest into Cyclone George deaths and injuries, seeking updates on prosecutions and the inquest's commencement.
AnsweredQoN 613Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CYCLONE
GEORGE — CORONIAL INQUEST
613. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Attorney General:
I refer to cyclone George, which swept through the Pilbara in
early March 2007, in which two people were killed and many more injured at the
Fortescue Metals Group Pilbara rail village.
(1) How many
prosecutions, successful or otherwise, have there been in village construction,
donga construction, procedures or other matters associated with the deaths or
injuries of the workers while sheltering inside the dongas or when going to the
assistance of other employees?
(2) What are the reasons for the delay in the commencement of
the coronial inquest into this matter?
(3) When will
the coronial inquest commence so that we can find out what lessons can be
learnt from this tragedy that occurred more than seven years ago?
GEORGE — CORONIAL INQUEST
613. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Attorney General:
I refer to cyclone George, which swept through the Pilbara in
early March 2007, in which two people were killed and many more injured at the
Fortescue Metals Group Pilbara rail village.
(1) How many
prosecutions, successful or otherwise, have there been in village construction,
donga construction, procedures or other matters associated with the deaths or
injuries of the workers while sheltering inside the dongas or when going to the
assistance of other employees?
(2) What are the reasons for the delay in the commencement of
the coronial inquest into this matter?
(3) When will
the coronial inquest commence so that we can find out what lessons can be
learnt from this tragedy that occurred more than seven years ago?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) WorkSafe
commenced prosecutions against eight companies with 49 charges under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 in connection with the two deaths and
serious harm caused to seven persons during cyclone George.
(2) Coronial
proceedings cannot commence until current prosecutions have concluded. Once
completed, the available evidence will need to be reviewed to decide whether an
inquest is necessary.
(3) The case
is in the Coroner's Court call-over list, available on the Coroner's
Court website, pending a decision whether to hold an inquest. The next mention
date is 4 July 2014. The case will remain in the call-over list until such time
that it is listed for an inquest hearing or a decision is made not to hold an
inquest.
question.
(1) WorkSafe
commenced prosecutions against eight companies with 49 charges under the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984 in connection with the two deaths and
serious harm caused to seven persons during cyclone George.
(2) Coronial
proceedings cannot commence until current prosecutions have concluded. Once
completed, the available evidence will need to be reviewed to decide whether an
inquest is necessary.
(3) The case
is in the Coroner's Court call-over list, available on the Coroner's
Court website, pending a decision whether to hold an inquest. The next mention
date is 4 July 2014. The case will remain in the call-over list until such time
that it is listed for an inquest hearing or a decision is made not to hold an
inquest.
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