Ten years after four people died on the Thunder River Rapids ride at Dreamworld, witnesses are still recalling the scene. On October 25, 2016, a pump failure left a raft stranded and another raft collided with it. A coronial inquest later found systemic failures, and Queensland introduced tougher theme park rules. Dreamworld says it has strengthened safety, but a safety expert argues boards of directors should face greater accountability.
Residents of South Hedland confronted WA Premier Roger Cook during a five-hour visit to the northern town. It was his first trip there since the state government announced a coronial inquest into the deaths of three local children in 2022. Cook said he fully appreciated that people wanted to see things improve. Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski accompanied him, and no child protection policy announcements were made. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said it was insulting that the premier did not meet affected families.
Jayde Struhs, the older sister of eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs, told a Brisbane coronial inquest she learned of her death from a journalist's text. Elizabeth died at home in Toowoomba in January 2022 after her father stopped giving her insulin for type 1 diabetes. The inquest is examining whether government agencies responded adequately to her child protection case. Her parents and members of The Saints were earlier found guilty of manslaughter. Coroner Ainslie Kirkegaard will hand down her findings in 2027.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
A coronial inquest in Brisbane has heard that Child Safety ignored repeated hospital warnings before eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs died in Toowoomba in January 2022. She died of diabetic ketoacidosis after her parents stopped her insulin, believing God would heal her. The family belonged to a religious group called The Saints, which rejected modern medicine. Doctors at Queensland Children's Hospital said they warned Child Safety that Elizabeth was at extremely high risk if returned to her mother. The inquest continues, examining the decisions of several government agencies.
A child safety worker has told a coronial inquest she never expected Elizabeth Struhs's father to convert to a religious sect and adopt its extreme views. Jason Struhs stopped giving his eight-year-old daughter insulin for type 1 diabetes, and she died at their Toowoomba home in January 2022. The inquest in Brisbane heard the worker had been shocked by the conversion, which came after Kerrie Struhs was jailed for neglect. The inquest is examining whether government departments responded appropriately. Jason and Kerrie Struhs were found guilty of manslaughter last year.
Child Safety workers have told a Brisbane coronial inquest they overrode repeated hospital warnings that eight-year-old Elizabeth Struhs faced an extremely high risk of death. Elizabeth died in January 2022 after her parents withdrew her insulin, believing God would heal her. Both parents and 12 other members of the Toowoomba-based group known as the Saints are serving prison sentences after being convicted of her manslaughter. Evidence on the 2019 decision to return her home was heard in court. The inquest continues on Friday and into next week.
WA Attorney General Tony Buti has requested a coronial inquest into the deaths of three children killed by their mother in Port Hedland in 2022. The request follows a sustained campaign by the children's grandmother, Dorothy Papertalk, who had been denied an inquest by a former coroner. Buti said he is now satisfied there is new evidence that was not considered earlier, though he did not detail it. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the delay was unfair and cruel to Ms Papertalk. Buti also announced a broader review of the laws guiding coronial inquests.
A child safety officer incorrectly assessed Elizabeth Struhs as safe one day after she arrived at hospital in a coma, a Queensland coronial inquest has heard. Elizabeth, who had type 1 diabetes, was later sent home to Toowoomba, where she died in January 2022 while her parents and members of their religious sect prayed for her healing. The officer's colleague told the court Elizabeth should have been recorded as unsafe. The inquest continues.
A Queensland child safety officer who returned eight-year-old Elizabeth Rose Struhs to her family has told a coroner they felt out of their depth regarding the family's extreme religious beliefs. Officers also lacked formal training and procedures for tracking cases, education department staff testified in Brisbane. Elizabeth died in January 2022 at the family home near Toowoomba after her father agreed to withhold insulin for her type-1 diabetes, in line with a church ban on modern medicine.
A police officer told a Queensland coronial inquest that child safety staff could not be persuaded to change their 2019 decision to return six-year-old Elizabeth Struhs to her Toowoomba home, despite concerns raised by some doctors. Elizabeth died in January 2022 after her parents stopped her insulin, which she needed for type 1 diabetes. Her parents belonged to a sect that rejected medicine. Doctors at the Queensland children's hospital had warned the mother might undermine treatment, yet staff judged the father able to manage insulin. The officer described the stance as professional courtesy.
A specialist doctor has told a coronial inquest in Brisbane that she repeatedly warned child safety officers that Elizabeth Struhs would not be safe living with her mother. Elizabeth, a type 1 diabetic, died at the family home in Toowoomba in January 2022 after her family and other members of their religious sect withdrew her insulin. The doctor said she felt stonewalled when raising concerns. Elizabeth's parents and others from the sect were convicted of her manslaughter last year. The inquest continues.
A man of interest in the 1972 disappearance of 14-year-old Marilyn Wallman was reportedly working at a Queensland coalmine more than 100 kilometres away that day, a court has heard. Marilyn was last seen leaving for a school bus in Mackay, and her bicycle was later found, while a fragment of her skull turned up two years afterwards. Her brother recalled hearing a girl's voice near a cane field, followed by a man's voice. At a coronial inquest in Mackay, Noel Morris, who has not yet appeared before the inquiry, was named as a person of interest.
Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook says new information released by the state Ombudsman on the deaths of three Pilbara children could support a coronial inquest. The children, aged 10, seven and four months, were killed by their mother, Margaret Hawke, in South Hedland. A previous request for an inquest by their grandmother, Dorothy Papertalk, was refused in 2025. Attorney-General Tony Buti says he can order an inquest only if fresh evidence is provided that the former coroner did not consider. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas questioned why no inquest has been called.
