Tasmania Police assistant commissioner apologises to mother denied access to deceased son

During the Hillcrest Primary School inquest, Tasmania Police assistant commissioner Adrian Bodnar apologized to Georgie Burt, whose 12-year-old son Zane died in the December 2021 jumping-castle collapse that claimed six lives. Bodnar said he was aware other families were permitted to spend time with their children’s bodies, but Burt was not, and he expressed deep sadness over that disparity. He described the chaotic circumstances, including a misidentification of Zane by a teacher and the challenges faced by first responders who performed CPR.

Bodnar noted that eleven officers have since lodged workers’ compensation claims, reflecting the incident’s human cost. He also referenced a police review that led to seven procedural changes, such as wearing vests to clarify command chains. The inquest continues to probe the castle’s installation, weather monitoring and potential state department failures, with a pending decision on additional witness applications.