Dad wants inquest on cyclone deaths
The grieving family of a man killed in cyclone George are pushing for an inquest into his death and that of a co-worker, hoping it could shed light on the tragedy.
Steve Raabe said he desperately hoped new State Coroner Ros Fogliani would decide there should be an inquest into the deaths of his 42-year-old son Craig and Perth mother-of-two Debra Till.
Craig and Ms Till died and dozens were injured in March 2007 when category-five cyclone George ripped apart the Fortescue Metals Group's Rail Camp One in the Pilbara.
WorkSafe WA charged several companies after the devastating cyclone but FMG and TPI were acquitted of failing to provide a safe workplace while Laing O'Rourke was acquitted on appeal of criminal wrongdoing.
Charges against five other companies were dropped.
Speaking to _The West Australian _ from his home in Gympie, Queensland, Mr Raabe said he now believed an inquest would be his family's last hope of finding out what went wrong and for there to be some accountability over the tragedy.
"There are so many unanswered questions," he said. "The good thing about an inquest is that a coroner can call witnesses and compel them to answer questions."
Mr Raabe has a number of concerns, including about the dongas in which his son and his co-workers sheltered and who was responsible for deciding not to evacuate the workers.
"This whole thing is begging, calling for an inquest," he said.
Mr Raabe paid tribute to the bright and hard-working man he was proud to call his son and who was well-liked and respected by workmates. "I have to support my son to try and get an inquest. There were too many things wrong at that camp," he said.
The matter is expected to return to court next month.
