Dreamworld's CEO has defended his parent company's executives over a disastrous public response to the nation's worst park tragedy in 37 years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The park will continue with a private memorial service for the four victims of the rapid ride accident on Friday following an embarrassing last-minute cancellation of a planned reopening.
Police have now put down the bizarre about face to a "misunderstanding" as their investigation continued for longer than first expected.
Speaking to Triple M on Friday, Dreamworld CEO Craig Davidson said he and Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas had now been in touch with a representative from each family.
"I myself have spoken to them. Deborah Thomas has spoken to them absolutely and I've been there in the room when she's doing that," he said.
On Friday, Ms Thomas told a press conference following the company's AGM she'd made contact with Kim Dorsett, whose two children Kate Goodchild, 32, and Luke Dorsett, 35, were killed, along with Luke's partner Roozbeh Araghi and Sydney mother Cindy Low.
"Furious" family members challenged her and the CEO clarified she had not spoken with the family directly because she "didn't know how to contact them".
Mr Davidson said the company's first priority was the victims and their families, followed by caring for affected staff and cooperating with the coronial investigation.
"I think in fairness to Deborah Thomas in the paper, you know, we absolutely have been doing our best to reach out to the families," he said.
"We had to follow a process to do that.
"We had to go through liaison officers and we had to do it sensitively and we had made contact but trying to reach every single family representative was tough and frankly guys, I know in some cases we are the last people they want to speak to."
After coming under fire for a planned public memorial service and charity reopening, the park cancelled on Thursday afternoon after taking advice from police.
"Dreamworld has been advised by Queensland Police Service that we are unable to proceed with tomorrow's memorial service as planned," a statement issued on Thursday read, which police later labelled inaccurate.
"Obviously the integrity of the coronial investigation is of paramount importance and postponing the service will give QPS the time it needs to conduct this investigation."
On Friday morning, Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd played down any conflict between police and Dreamworld after a series of conflicting statements were issued on Thursday afternoon.
"We've been in discussions and we are thankful that they reached the decision after negotiation with us that it would not be appropriate at this stage to open today," he said.
The state of a planned private service to be held beforehand was unclear until Mr Davidson clarified on Friday morning.
He said the private service in the park would continue, attended by Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and members of the Gold Coast Tourism industry.
"The support has been unbelievable guys, overwhelmingly good and we'll start with our people here today, then tonight there will be a candlelight vigil at the park," he said.
The park is due to remain closed over the weekend before releasing an update on Monday detailing any plans for a public memorial and reopening.
Mr Codd said he was in talks with Dreamworld about a staged re-opening, possibly early next week, but it was too early to say for sure.
