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Charges have been laid against a jumping castle operator over the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School tragedy which killed six children and seriously injured three more, with families of some of the victims welcoming the move.
Tasmania's public prosecutor has charged operator Taz-Zorb over the incident, alleging it failed to follow health and safety duties.
"The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed a complaint in the Magistrates Court at Devonport in respect of the incident that occurred at Hillcrest Primary School on 16 December, 2021," work health and safety regulator Robyn Pearce said.
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"The DPP has charged Taz-Zorb, the operator of the jumping castle, with a Category 2 offence under the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
"This offence alleges that the operator failed to comply with a health and safety duty in a way that exposed the children to a risk of death or serious injury."
The tragedy claimed the lives of students Zane Mellor, Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Chace Harrison.
The families of Zane, Peter, Jalailah and Addison released a joint statement through their lawyers after charges were laid, welcoming the development.
"We welcome the announcement that charges have been laid," they said.
"This was a terrible tragedy that claimed the lives of our beautiful children and which has left others both physically and emotionally impacted.
"We know WorkSafe has worked tirelessly in their investigation into what went wrong on that fateful day and we thank them for their hard work.
"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the first responders and medical staff who took care of our children.
"We would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the incredibly brave children who ran to the assistance of their injured friends and classmates."
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WorkSafe Tasmania said the charges come following a long investigation, including meetings with the six children's families.
"This decision comes after a significant investigation undertaken by WorkSafe Tasmania staff which involved many months of work," Pearce said.
"A large number of documents have been prepared and considered by the investigators and the DPP in order to reach this decision.
"Throughout the last year I have continued to meet with the families of the children who died or were injured in this incident and would again like to express my condolences to each of them."
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The tragedy happened during a gusty, windy day when end-of-year celebrations at the primary school.
A coronial inquest into the deaths was delayed in February after WorkSafe refused to pass on documents, arguing it could prejudice a prosecution.
Georgina Gardam, the mother of Zane Mellor, said she was looking forward to the resumption of that inquest.
"What I and the other families have gone through is awful," she said.
"I am so sad that we have lost children and we can never get them back. There was no chance of survival for my poor son Zane…
"I want justice for my son and the other families impacted and look forward to hearing the outcome of the criminal proceedings and subsequent Coronial inquest."
The DPP had until mid-December to lay charges, with Tasmanian workplace safety laws stipulating charges must be brought within two years of an incident.
