Commerce minister Michael Mishcin has revealed legal proceedings have been initiated against parties involved in an accident in which two Mandurah school children received massive electric shocks from a fallen powerline in 2015, but has not said who would be facing charges.
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Questioned in parliament by Mandurah MP David Templeman, Mr Mischin said safety watchdog EnergySafety would not be publishing a report into its investigation of the incident.
John Tonkin College students Tariq Rowles and Chevaunne Bussola, were walking to school when they received massive electric shocks from a damaged streetlight on Education Drive in Greenfields on March 16, 2015.
Chevaunne was taken to Peel Health Campus and was treated for minor injuries, but Tariq, who had to be revived at the scene, was left in a critical condition and was rushed to Princess Margaret Hospital.
In September 2015, a Western Power employee described by executive manager Dave Fyfe as “one of the contributing factors” to the Greenfields incident, was sacked after it was revealed he was involved in an incident in 2014 in which a Baldivis man required medical treatment.
There is no suggestion this man is the focus of legal action.
Mr Mischin defended the time it had taken to investigate the accident.
“It has taken time because some technical aspects were complex and the agency wanted to ensure the investigation was thorough,” he said.
“It [EnergySafety] also had to wait to have access to the young victims who were recovering at the time and and on the availability of other key witnesses.”
EnergySafety has been contacted for comment.
