The inquest into the tragic jumping castle incident at Hillcrest Primary School in Tasmania, which claimed the lives of six children and left three others seriously injured, has been delayed due to the state’s workplace safety regulator’s refusal to hand over important documents.
The incident occurred on December 16 in 2021, during end-of-term celebrations at Hillcrest Primary School, when a wind gust lifted the castle and several inflatable Zorb balls into the air.
According to reports, the regulator, WorkSafe Tasmania, has refused to pass on critical material, including expert reports, which are required by the coroner to progress with the inquest.
The regulator cited ongoing investigations and potential prosecutions as the reasons for its decision.
Lawyer Sam Thompson, representing WorkSafe Tasmania, said that the regulator had referred information to the director of public prosecutions for a determination on whether charges would be laid.
The investigation is said to be “unprecedented in its nature and scope” with more than 40,000 documents in the file.
In response to the situation, Coroner Olivia McTaggart adjourned the inquest indefinitely, stating that she was unable to progress the case without the documents, which include engineer and geotechnical expert reports.
WorkSafe Tasmania has commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court of Tasmania to prevent information it considers privileged from being released.
The delay is described as “regrettable” by Mr Thompson, who acknowledged the integrity of WorkSafe Tasmania’s investigations and possible prosecutions must be protected.
However, the coroner expressed her hope that the issue could be resolved within two-to-three months.
The delay in the inquest is a setback for the families seeking answers and justice for their loved ones.
