The coronial investigation into the deaths of six Tasmanian children in the Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy will remain on hold due to a Supreme Court decision.
Almost two years have passed since the December 2021 saw a gust of wind lift an inflatable jumping castle into the air during end-of-year celebrations at Hillcrest Primary School, resulting in six deaths and three injuries.
The workplace safety regulator, WorkSafe Tasmania, has been withholding investigation documents from Coroner Olivia McTaggart that she needs to conclude her investigation, preventing the inquest from proceeding.
The documents include an engineer’s report, geotechnical expert reports and written testimonies from three employees of TaZorb, the company responsible for the equipment involved in the tragedy.
The conflict between the coroner and WorkSafe has been taken to the Supreme Court of Tasmania, with WorkSafe successfully obtaining a restraining order preventing the coroner from accessing the evidence.
WorkSafe Tasmania have argued concerns about prejudicing potential prosecutions under workplace safety laws as the reason for not providing the findings.
Justice Gregory Geason ruled against the disclosure of the documents, saying that it could impede the ability of Work Health Safety and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to effectively investigate possible offences.
The coroner will not have access to the documents until the end of the limitation period for prosecutions in December or the end of any criminal cases that may arise.
