SafeWork says it welcomes the probe and vows to provide necessary documents
The state government has announced that it will review the investigation of SafeWork South Australia over the case of a murdered nurse in 2016.
The said nurse was raped and murdered while working on-call at the Nganampa Health Council (NHC) in March 2016, with her rapist and murderer eventually sent to a lifetime in prison in 2017.
SafeWork SA launched an investigation over the incident in April 2021, where it looked into possible breaches of NHC on the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
A year after, however, SafeWork SA announced that it will no longer be pursuing a case against NHC, telling the nurse's family that there "wouldn't be a good chance of a prosecution," ABC News reported.
According to SafeWork, the decision was made following an independent legal advice from a senior barrister and experienced criminal prosecutor.
SafeWork SA's decision came despite a coroner inquest finding in 2021 that the nurse's death could have been avoided, according to a report from 9News.
Citing "concerns" about SafeWork SA's conduct of the investigation on the case, the state government said it is determined to ensure that such concerns were investigated thoroughly and launched an independent probe over the matter.
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South Australia Attorney-General Kyam Maher said in a statement that while no review can make up for the nurse's life, the government wants to ensure that her loved ones' concerns are heard.
Former Federal Court judge John Mansfield AM QC was announced to lead the review, according to a government statement, which will aim to look into the "adequacy of SafeWork SA's investigation" of the murdered nurse's case.
It will also look into the organisation's engagement with the victim's family during the investigation.
In a statement, SafeWork SA said it welcomes the independent probe.
"SafeWork SA will provide all documents requested by Mr Mansfield for his consideration and looks forward to the release of his findings," it said in a statement quoted by ABC News.
The review is expected to end by July 2022, with the results to be made publicly available.
