The ACT Chief Coroner said on Friday that an inquest into the death of a helicopter pilot in Antarctica is expected at this stage to resume next year after criminal charges were laid against two of the parties involved.
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In charges filed in a Canberra court, Commonwealth prosecutors have alleged that the federal government, and its contractor Helicopter Resources, failed in their duties under work health and safety laws.
The government said the charges would not affect the progress of the inquest from their perspective, but the helicopter company has reserved its position.
On Friday, Chief Coroner Lorraine Walker said that at this stage, the inquest was expected to resume in May.
But she said the court would first consider any submissions from Helicopter Resources about whether the charges would affect the progress of the inquiry.
Captain David Wood, 62, was working on an ice shelf on the remote continent when, on January 11 last year, he stepped into a crevasse.
He became wedged several metres deep within the ice.
His colleague, who was also on the ice shelf unloading fuel drums, flew the hour-long journey back to Australia's Davis station for help.
He returned with a team of rescuers returned and pulled Mr Wood from the ice.
The pilot received hours of medical treatment back at the base.
But he died of hypothermia the next day.
Mr Wood's death has been the subject of an inquest in the ACT Coroner's Court this year involving some ten parties.
That inquiry is not yet finished.
The criminal charges have come about as a result of a separate investigation by work safety regulator Comcare.
Prosecutors have filed the charges against the federal environment department and Mr Wood's employer Helicopter Resources, which the government contracts to provide air services in Antarctica.
They allege that the environment department, through the Australian Antarctic Division, and Helicopter Resources failed in their duties under work health and safety laws.
It is alleged their failure to undertake proper safety assessments of the ice shelf site exposed Mr Wood to the risk of death or serious injury.
Both the department and Helicopter Resources face three charges, which carry a maximum penalty of $1.5 million each.
It is the first time that a government department has been charged under the new work health and safety laws since they were introduced in 2012.
The new laws carry much more significant financial penalties than previously.
Ms Walker said the ACT Coroner's Court became aware on Wednesday that the Commonwealth had laid charges against the two parties.
She said the Commonwealth and Helicopter Resources were given an opportunity to make submissions as to whether this would impact on the future progress of the hearing.
"The Commonwealth indicated immediately that it would not from their perspective," she said.
"Helicopter Resources has reserved its position in this respect and will make any submissions regarding the potential impact by [February 16]."
The court would consider any submissions on their merits at the time, she said.
The ACT Industrial Court magistrate will hear the criminal charges against the government and the helicopter company.
The first return date is February 22.
Ms Walker said the inquest was at this stage expected to resume on May 1, with a venue to be confirmed.
