A 24-year-old chef died after falling from the 100-meter-high Sky Deck at The Star Casino in Brisbane earlier this year. The chef, who was a demi chef from the Philippines, reportedly accessed the deck and died by suicide in June.
Emails obtained after the incident indicate that management for The Star and its Queen's Wharf partners were made aware of a safety hazard involving the Sky Deck's glass barrier and handrail. A senior Star manager in Brisbane first flagged the issue in May 2025, warning that a gap in the glass safety partition, combined with the handrail, presented an accessible climbing point. The manager sent a follow-up email in July 2025 reiterating the concern about the handrail and the gap between glass panels.
Another manager raised the issue again in September 2025, explicitly warning of the "risk of falls (willful acts)" and suggesting modifications to reduce the risk of individuals scaling the external balustrades, such as removing handrails.
An independent report commissioned by The Star on October 14 also highlighted the potential for facade elements to be misused as hand and footholds, specifically mentioning the Sky Deck balustrade handrail and stating the issue required urgent attention.
Following the employee's death, The Star implemented temporary hoarding and hired security personnel for the Sky Deck. However, a permanent solution has not yet been completed. The Star Casino has been contacted for comment.