The CTU is extremely concerned with the release today of a High Court decision declining to review the decision by Worksafe not to proceed with the prosecution against Peter Whittall in relation to the 29 deaths at Pike River after his insurers paid $1.42m into the Court as an alternative.
CTU President, Richard Wagstaff said, “The CTU supported the Pike families who sought to pursue justice. We are now considering appealing this decision,”
“Last week was the fifth anniversary of the tragedy which saw 29 men killed at work. No one has ever been held accountable. There is no justice when money can influence a decision to not prosecute in this way.”
“If this is the law in New Zealand then the law needs to change. Justice is not justice if it can be bought,” Wagstaff said.