AWU welcomes Qld Coroner’s findings on 2016 Dreamworld Tragedy

The Australian Workers’ Union (AWU) has welcomed the Queensland coroner’s findings released today following the inquiry into tragic deaths of four people at Dreamworld in 2016, saying revelations of management’s total failure to deal with safety risks was of no surprise to the union.  

Southern District Secretary Mark Raguse said the AWU wasn’t surprised to hear the coroner’s statements, saying the union strongly supported the recommendations.

“The AWU had repeatedly raised safety concerns with Dreamworld’s former management about safety issues of rides, however they had simply refused to listen, let alone act,” Mark said.

“The union is of the view that it’s clear Dreamworld’s previous management had a profit-focused mentality rather than a safety-focused one,” Mark said.

“The AWU had repeatedly attempted to raise concerns with the management of the day about issues about the operations of rides.

“However, these complaints were roundly ignored by management.

“Many workers at Dreamworld told the union there was a culture of fear about raising concerns with management, worried they’d be targeted if they spoke out.

“The union is of the strong view that it was  plain and simple that management’s culture and attitude towards safety needed to change.”

Mark Raguse added the AWU’s thoughts are with the families and loved ones of Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett and Roozi Araghi who tragically lost their lives in 2016, and the workers affected by this tragedy.

 

Read the Coroner’s Findings and Recommendations.