Star Brisbane Casino Under Investigation for Safety Concerns

Regulator Investigates Reopened Inquiries Over Star Casino Safety Concerns

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland initially stated that it had determined no compliance action was required after making preliminary inquiries into the incident. However, the regulator confirmed on Wednesday that it had received a fresh complaint and would now conduct further investigations into the matter.

Star Entertainment finds itself under intense fresh scrutiny as internal records have surfaced, showing that managers had raised safety concerns multiple times about a weakness at its Brisbane casino complex long before the tragic death of a young employee.

Internal Reports Raised Sky Deck Safety Concerns Before Employee Death

Company records indicate that senior staff warned as early as 2025 that a section of The Star Brisbane’s Sky Deck—situated on the 23rd floor of the Queen’s Wharf entertainment precinct—could be climbed due to the configuration of a handrail and the gaps between glass safety panels.

The first of these concerns were officially reported in May 2025, with subsequent warnings issued in July and September of the same year. According to reports by The Sydney Morning Herald, internal assessments had flagged the balustrade design as a clear potential risk and recommended structural changes to prevent individuals from scaling the barrier.

Tragically, the problem remained unresolved until June 2026, when a 24-year-old Filipino employee, working as a chef in the casino’s room-service operations, died after falling at the site.

Ignored Warnings and Deepening Regulatory Scrutiny

Documents reveal that the safety flaw was a topic of ongoing discussion within the organization in the months leading up to the employee’s death:

September 2025: An internal report highlighted the possibility of intentional falls and strongly recommended modifications to several external barriers, including adjustments to the handrail and closing openings in the balustrade.

October 2025: Managers approached the Destination Brisbane Consortium, the developer behind the Queen’s Wharf project, seeking permission and funding to implement the necessary changes.

Late 2025: A separate technical review explicitly called out the ease of climbing the Sky Deck barrier as a critical issue requiring priority attention.

Despite these repeated red flags, a permanent structural solution had not been completed at the time of the latest reports. While more security measures and a temporary barrier were finally put in place following the employee's death, Star remains under heavy regulatory scrutiny as it navigates both safety compliance investigations and deepening financial losses.