Star ignored Sky Deck safety warnings before worker's fatal fall
Star Entertainment failed to act on repeated internal warnings about a safety flaw on the Sky Deck of its Brisbane casino precinct in the year before a young staff member fell to her death from the same spot in early June, according to internal documents obtained by The Australian Financial Review (AFR).
The documents, part of a joint investigation by the AFR, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, show senior Star staff flagged concerns about the balustrade on the 23rd floor of the Queen's Wharf complex, roughly 100 metres above ground, as far back as May 2025. A Star manager followed up two months later, identifying "the handrail along with the gap between the glass panels" as the main issue.
Almost a year later, a 24-year-old Filipino chef working in Star Brisbane's room service division used the handrail to take her own life. Destination Brisbane Consortium (DBC), which now controls the precinct, brought in security and a temporary barrier after her death, but a permanent fix has yet to be installed.
According to the AFR's reporting, further warnings followed throughout 2025. In September, another Star manager circulated a report on the risk of wilful falls, specifically calling for the handrail and balustrade to be reviewed and modified. The following month, staff again pushed for urgent action, noting DBC would need board sign-off before the handrail could be removed. A technical review commissioned by DBC around the same time flagged the "climbability" of the balustrade as requiring urgent attention, warning that facade elements could be misused as hand and footholds.
Star did not respond to questions about the death or the design warnings, and the Coroners Court of Queensland confirmed its investigation remains open.
The safety failure adds to a difficult period for the ASX-listed operator, which posted a $307 million annual loss on Monday and cut operating costs by 8 per cent, with gaming revenue down more than 5 per cent to $756.2 million and auditors raising doubts over its financial viability. Star's Sydney casino licence remains suspended under independent oversight, its Brisbane and Gold Coast licences are also being monitored, and the company still faces a possible $400 million AUSTRAC fine. NSW regulator Philip Crawford has ordered a fresh inquiry in light of the latest revelations, with a decision on Star's licences due in September.
If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through Lifeline Australia (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 224 636), and the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467).
Jonathan Jackson, 2nd September 2026
