Alanna Fitzpatrick

Advised and represented important stakeholders following the tragic accident at Dreamworld in October 2016. Her role encompassed crisis response following the immediate aftermath of the incident, advising and representing those with potential personal liability in police and Work Health and Safety investigations as well as appearing at the Coronial Inquest.

Represented two officers charged with breaching their obligations of due diligence following a serious safety incident. As a result of carefully developed legal submissions and working with experts to challenge the factual matrix, the charges were resolved without a contested trial or adverse personal consequences for the two officers.

Represented a government owned corporation in Federal Court proceedings which related to competing Federal and State occupational health and safety obligations in proceedings which had far reaching policy implications.

Advised a large organisation about their potential exposure to prosecution for psychosocial injuries suffered by workers and assisted to develop systems to implement and audit control measures to reduce the risk to workers of psychological harm.

Represented a large employer in a work health and safety investigation undertaken by a safety regulator following a worker suffering a severe psychological injury.

Advised a large agricultural investment fund on its safety related obligations in respect of property management arrangements and developed and presented a range of training materials to the officers of that organisation to assist them to proactively manage these obligations.

Acted for a Federal Agency prosecuting individuals engaged in unsafe conduct on large construction sites.

Advising a government owned corporation (GOC) regarding the management of competing safety risks. The advice considered the obligations of the GOC and developed a strategy to ensure optimal management of risks and the discharge of executive officer liabilities under the Work Safety and Health Act 2011.

Provided advice, framework and policy for a Queensland organisation to manage the return to work and termination of workers who were ill and injured as a result of both work and non-work related injuries. The advice considered obligations under state and federal discrimination law, the Fair Work Act 2009, the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003, the Work Safety and Health Act 2011 and the operation of an income protection scheme.

Advising a government owned corporation about drug and alcohol testing on construction sites and the interaction between its obligations under the Work Safety and Health Act 2011 and the obligations of the principal contractor appointed to manage its construction projects.

Acted in a variety of employment-related litigation matters and appeared in dispute resolution proceedings for a publicly-listed mining company who commenced proceedings against a former executive alleging breaches of employment and fiduciary duties in factually complex multi-party proceedings.