NSW: Waterfall inquiry to open on Friday

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NSW: Waterfall inquiry to open on Friday

SYDNEY, Feb 10 AAP - The inquiry into the Waterfall train disaster will hold its firstpublic hearings on Friday.

The Special Commission of Inquiry was announced by NSW Premier Bob Carr on the dayof the accident, which left seven people dead and dozens more injured on January 31.

Retired Supreme Court justice Peter McInerney, who conducted the inquiry into the 1999Glenbrook rail accident, was appointed to head the probe and also as a coroner to conductan inquest into the deaths.

The commission released a statement saying Commissioner McInerney would report by May31 on three matters:

* The causes of the accident and the factors which contributed to it;

* The adequacy of the safety management systems applicable to the circumstances ofthe derailment;

* Any safety improvements to rail operation which Commissioner McInerney deems necessary.

Peter Hall, QC, Christopher Barry, QC, and David Cowan have been appointed by AttorneyGeneral Bob Debus as counsel assisting the inquiry.

Mr Hall will open the public hearings in Sydney with a statement which is expectedto include reference to the nature of the investigation, its progress to date and futuredirection.

AAP jh/pw/br

KEYWORD: DERAIL INQUIRY