Inquiry reopened after new internal documents obtained by media
Queensland's workplace health and safety regulator has reopened its inquiry into The Star Brisbane, after new evidence emerged that the casino ignored repeated internal warnings about a structural flaw on its rooftop deck where a worker later died.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) had initially concluded no compliance action was required following the death of a 24-year-old room service worker on 7 June. But the regulator confirmed to Australian media on Wednesday it had received a fresh complaint and would conduct further inquiries into the matter.
"WHSQ will be making further inquiries into the matter," a spokeswoman said, as quoted by the Australian Financial Review (AFR).
The reversal followed the publication of internal documents by the AFR, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Age, which revealed that a senior Star manager had flagged vulnerabilities in the balustrade of the casino's 250-metre Sky Deck as early as May 2025.
A follow-up warning two months later identified "the handrail along with the gap between the glass panels" as "the major" concern, more than a year before the fatal incident, according to the AFR's report.
Despite the warnings, no permanent fix has been put in place. After the worker's death, Destination Brisbane Consortium, which operates the Queen's Wharf precinct, deployed security personnel and installed a temporary barrier.
Government pressure to act
Queensland opposition spokeswoman on industrial relations Grace Grace called on the state government to act.
"Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie should be demanding answers from The Star on why these safety warnings were ignored and ensure the matter is fully investigated by health and safety inspectors," she said as quoted by the AFR.
Grace also pointed to the casino's size as a reason for urgency.
"The Star is a huge employer in Queensland, employing about 5,000 people, and Jarrod Bleijie must take action for this serious health and safety issue," she said.
Industrial Relations Minister Jarrod Bleijie defended the government's response and pushed back on what he called political opportunism.
"The appropriate authorities are investigating and for the Labor opposition to politicise a tragedy like this is deeply insensitive and an insult to this poor person's loved ones," he said.
Star Entertainment has yet to comment further on the matter. Both a WHSQ investigation and a coronial inquiry remain ongoing.
