BY RACHEL STORER
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| Tim Macpherson, beloved son and father. (Facebook) |
The heartbroken father of the Hunter man who was killed during construction of the Barangaroo Ferry Hub said he never expected to bury his son and is now calling for an inquiry.
Tim Macpherson was tragically crushed by a falling steel beam in March and never went home to his wife Ashleigh, son Jack and his unborn daughter.
His father Iain Macpherson is now calling for a coronial inquest into his death and has the backing of the MUA and NSW Senator Doug Cameron.
Mr Macpherson said there were several safety issues on the barge Tim was working on including cluttered work spaces and piles of building materials restricting access on deck.
He was told by another worker who escaped the beam that "Timmy had no where to go mate... no where to go," because of the clutter.
He also claims the barge itself shouldn't have been in operation in the first place as it didn't pass initial safety tests.
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| Construction of the Barangaroo Ferry Hub where Tim was killed. (ABC) |
The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) claims the state government's ferry wharf which opened in June is riddled with safety concerns including overheating black paint on surfaces and metal gates that are too heavy for staff.
Mr Macpherson received only one letter of condolence from the NSW government and asked if their "high quality transport infrastructure" is worth losing lives for.
"The state government were beating their chest about the great thing it was to have a project moving forward on time.
"Whatever the dollar cost, there are people who go home to their families in wheelchairs or didn't go home at all just to see that 'marvelous' edifice built," Mr Macpherson said.
Mr Macpherson wants to ensure his daughter-in-law is properly looked after and has praised the CMFEU and MUA for their help lobbying for the inquest.
He said he also hopes parents tell their children that no job is worth the money if the risks are too high.
