SYDNEY: The owner of Australia’s biggest theme park was fined Aus$3.6 million ($2.5 million) on Monday for safety failures leading to the deaths of four people on a popular water ride in 2016. A Queensland court found the company had breached the state’s workplace health and safety laws but stopped short of the maximum Aus$4.5-million penalty. Ardent Leisure said it accepted full responsibility and apologized “unreservedly” in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange. Ardent Leisure said it had compensated the “majority” of families, first responders and others impacted by the tragedy and was working to complete the outstanding claims. Construction of a memorial to the victims in Dreamworld was put on hold due to the pandemic but work is expected to restart within months, the firm added.

Source: Manila Times September 28, 2020 05:15 UTC