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Updated ,first published
Six years after a Perth mother was accused of stealing her son’s six-figure payout from the fatal 2016 Dreamworld tragedy, all charges against her have been discontinued.
Michelle Lisa Hanson, 50, and her son Thomas Hanson, who was just 16 years old at the time, were at the Gold Coast theme park and on the ride behind the ill-fated raft that flipped, killing four people on October 25.
Tom was one of the first people to attempt to help Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low, who died in the tragedy. He also helped others, including lifting a baby from the water, getting them to safety.
He was left traumatised by the incident and sought compensation, ultimately being awarded $179,000.
But in 2020, Tom contacted authorities claiming that his mother had kept more than $149,000 and only gave him $30,000 of the money.
Because she was on the ride herself, Hanson also launched a compensation claim, which was successful, although it remains unknown how much she received.
Police charged her with stealing and Hanson has since faced myriad court hearings. She pleaded not guilty to the charge and the matter was set down for trial three times, but Hanson was then deemed unfit to stand after she suffered a stroke two years ago while in Bali.
A report submitted to the court stated she “suffered a number of difficulties” which would mean she would be unable to properly defend herself.
State prosecutors also said any future hearings would be difficult to proceed with because of Hanson’s “inability to clearly communicate instructions” and her “impaired memory” would “create significant barriers”.
The last time she attended court she was using a wheelchair.
On Thursday, the matter took another turn after prosecutors told the District Court of WA that the charges would be dropped on the grounds that proceeding with the case was not “in the public’s interest”.
That decision was escalated for review by the Director of Public Prosecutions for WA Robert Owen, who upheld it.
But during the notice of discontinuance hearing, Judge Linda Petrusa said the reason for dropping the charge was “vague” and pushed back on whether the complainant had been adequately briefed.
“I am very concerned about this action being taken in a case of this kind,” she said, before adding that accused people who were declared unfit to stand trial could still be prosecuted via a special hearing, “so there can be some resolution about these matters”.
“I think the community at large may have some interest in why the director has exercised the discretion that he has,” she said.
Hanson’s son and ex-husband wrote to the court, urging for the matter to proceed.
Dean Hanson told this masthead they were disappointed with the decision to discontinue the charge given that the new Criminal Law Mental Impairment Act “was introduced exactly for this scenario”.
“The Act emphasises that victims should be acknowledged and heard and that the role of carers and families must be recognised,” he said.
“We do not feel by discontinuing the proposed hearing this has taken place.
“If a hearing was not to take place in these circumstances, you wonder what the point of the legislation is.”
Civil proceedings they instigated against Hanson resulted in her repaying the funds.
In 2024, Tom Hanson was awarded the Group Bravery Citation along with Joedy Charles Vincent as part of the Australian Bravery Decorations list after they were recognised for their actions at the theme park.
They were commended for “rushing to assist”, entering the water and attempting to revive those thrown from the raft.
“Children were removed from the immediate area and taken to safety,” details released at the time stated.
Hanson was not in court on Thursday to hear the outcome of the hearing.
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