Qld: Families of Childers fire victims continue wait for compo

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-2006
Qld: Families of Childers fire victims continue wait for compo

The families of 11 people who died in the Childers backpacker hostel fire are still
fighting for compensation .. six years after the tragedy.

The blaze at the Palace Backpackers Hostel at Childers .. north of Brisbane in June
2000 .. killed 15 people .. mostly international travellers.

ROBERT PAUL LONG is serving a 20-year jail sentence for murder and arson .. after lighting
the fire.

Investigations found fire alarms at the hostel had been switched off .. there had been
no evacuation plan and fire exits were blocked.

Almost 60 survivors of the fire have just settled a multi-million dollar damages claim
against the Queensland government .. the Isis Shire Council and the owners and operators
of the hostel.

But the families of 11 of the victims continue to wait for compensation.

Their representatives say complexities of the case .. including that many of the relatives
live overseas and don't speak English .. have contributed to the length of the process
which began in 2002.

It's hoped a resolution will begin in February and an out-of-court settlement .. believed
to be millions of dollars .. will be reached.

One other victim had no relatives while families of three others have elected not to
take legal action.

AAP RTV jmm/sc/els/bart

KEYWORD: CHILDERS (BRISBANE)

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