Work for Dole death in court
Case of teen’s tragedy progresses
ONE of the cases regarding the 2016 Work for the Dole death of Joshua William Park-Fing at the Toowoomba Showgrounds was heard by the Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday.
Adrian Strachan, who was the Work for the Dole program coordinator at the time, was not present in court for the brief mention that was conducted through a telephone hook-up between his defence solicitor and representatives of the Office of Industrial Relations.
Strachan was charged with “failure to comply with health and safety duty - category 3” but was not required to enter a plea yesterday morning.
The offence carries a maximum $50,000 fine.
The charge came after 18year-old Mr Park-Fing died from injuries sustained on a Commonwealth Governmentsponsored Work for the Dole program at the Toowoomba Showgrounds in 2016.
Mr Strachan was tasked with overseeing Work for the Dole supervisors, the placement of Work for the Dole workers and work at host employers at the time.
It is alleged that Mr ParkFing died after falling from the back of a flat-bed tractor and striking his head.
The Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland and Neato Employment Services Pty Ltd have similarly been charged over the teenager’s death two years ago.
Magistrate Catherine Pirie adjourned the matter for mention back in the same court on June 22.