Received

An investigation into a fatal light plane crash in Tasmania's wilderness has found the operator encouraged pilots to fly even when adverse weather was forecast and guidance about operations in the area was not well documented.

Nikita Walker, 30, was on her way from Hobart to Bathurst Harbour in the state's southwest to pick up passengers in December 2018 when she struck a mountain ridge in the Western Arthur Range.

Ms Walker, who was from Queensland, had moved to Tasmania several years earlier to train as a pilot with charter company Airlines of Tasmania.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau report, released on Monday, revealed she was flying a route through the range known as 'the portals', which is used in low cloud conditions.

She was travelling over a saddle at a lower altitude than previous flights and likely encountered poor visibility before crashing into a ridge when she tried to exit the range.

The report found specific guidance provided by Airlines of Tasmania for Bathurst Harbour operations was "primarily given verbally and was not well documented".

The report didn't consider it to be a contributing factor to the crash but did list several factors that had increased the risk.

"Airlines of Tasmania did not provide any documented guidance for the southwest operations, despite encouraging pilots to commence the flight, even when forecasts indicated they may be likely to encounter adverse weather en route," it reads.

"This resulted in the pilots having varied understanding of the expectations regarding in-flight weather-related decision making at the Arthur Range saddle, and increased the risk that some pilots continued into an area of high terrain in marginal conditions, where options to escape were limited."

The company's safety management processes for identifying hazards also relied extensively on safety reports which "limited the opportunity to proactively identify risks", the report said.

ATSB transport safety director Stuart Godley said it was important operators used multiple sources to identify potential hazards, such as audits, flight data and expert judgment.

"For pilots, this tragic accident highlights the hazards associated with flying in mountainous terrain and the need to have an escape route," he said.

"It also shows the challenges of in-flight weather-related decision-making."

The report noted Airlines of Tasmania introduced specific guidance in January last year for operations in the southwest, including visibility requirements for pilots using the direct route through the Arthur Range saddle.

The company also boosted its training syllabus and made changes to its safety management system.

Ms Walker had a total of 540 hours flying experience and had flown the Bathurst Harbour route 180 times, including five times in the week before her death.

She was described by her colleagues as competent and conscientious and had demonstrated a willingness to turn back in unfavourable weather.

Airlines of Tasmania has been contacted for comment.

© AAP 2021

The son of a Sydney man who was infected with COVID-19 when they travelled together to Byron Bay has been fined $35,000 and reprimanded for not caring "about the community at all", after sparking a lockdown.

Kristian Radovanovic was 19 when he left his Rose Bay home in Sydney and travelled to the NSW northern rivers region with his father Zoran to buy property in late July.

The 20-year-old did not appear for his sentence as he was looking after his grandmother in Serbia, the Waverley Local Court was told on Monday.

He had pleaded guilty to four charges over failing to abide by public health orders and was "very regretful of the lockdown that occurred" his lawyer David Newham said.

For not using a QR code and failing to wear a mask in a general store the younger Radovanovic was fined $5000 and $7500 respectively, and for not wearing a mask or using a QR code in a taxi he was fined $12,500 and $10,000 respectively.

The former gyprocker was already serving a community corrections order following a police pursuit while drink driving, and a conditional release order for affray after joining a brawl.

Magistrate Paul Mulroney said all the offences involved a disregard for public health and safety.

"He did not care at all about the rest of the community," he said.

"What he did was not just irresponsible, not just criminal, but had the real potential to put the lives and the wellbeing of the community at serious risk.

"I am imposing substantial fines to drive home to other people who don't think this is serious ... there should be significant consequences."

The family had a reasonable excuse to enter the region to purchase a farm after his father's senior business partner had already inspected it and communicated in essence "this is the one", the court was told.

He "wasn't exploiting a loophole", and when a Serbian father tells his son to jump, Mr Newham said, he asks "how high?".

"At that point in time, they didn't know they were infected with COVID-19 at all," the lawyer said.

The family packed up some belongings and travelled to Byron Bay on July 31.

They stopped into places throughout the northern rivers, including towns along the Richmond River and around Ballina, according to court documents.

After the original property was disappointing, the father made an offer on a Nimbin farm on August 5.

By this time he was having breathing difficulties he assumed was due to his chronic asthma, the court was told

Days later the 52-year-old was admitted to hospital with the virus, subsequently leading Byron Bay and surrounding areas into a one-week lockdown in August.

His son also tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered for 10 days in a small room with a toilet, describing the situation as "hell".

Mr Newham said his client accepted there was no excuse for his conduct but pointed out "half the people around were doing the same thing".

Police prosecutor Matthew Wade said Kristian Radovanovic deliberately chose to ignore the laws at the time.

"It doesn't matter what the mood was in Byron Bay," he said.

Despite protests from his lawyer that the young man was not "flush with funds", the magistrate said the family were able to purchase property, fly and live overseas.

Zoran Radovanovic's case is also up for mention at Lismore Local Court on Monday.

© AAP 2021

An 11-year-old boy has become the sixth fatality of Devonport's Hillcrest Primary School tragedy.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine says Chace Harrison died in hospital on Sunday afternoon.

His death follows those of 11-year-old Addison Stewart and 12-year-olds Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Peter Dodt.

A gust of wind sent a jumping castle being played on by nine children in total 10 metres into the air during year-end celebrations at the school on Thursday.

Two children remain in a critical condition in Royal Hobart Hospital and one other is in recovery at home.

"It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm a sixth child has lost his life following the tragedy," Mr Hine told reporters in Hobart.

"An 11-year-old boy died this afternoon, his name is Chace Harrison. Our thoughts continue to be with his family and all other families and loved ones of the children involved."

The state's top cop said the investigation into the incident in conjunction with WorkSafe Tasmania was ongoing and would be for some time.

"We are working tirelessly with all parties concerned to ensure the extensive investigation is completed as a matter of priority for the coroner," he said.

"Their priority will be to interview all witnesses, gather and analyse forensic evidence at all in biomedical aspects including weather patterns and conditions of the time of this incident."

Given the magnitude of what happened and the need to speak to a large number of traumatised children within a short period of time, Tasmanian detectives have accepted an offer of help from NSW police.

Four forensic child interviewers will travel to the island state from Sydney over the coming days.

"I am certain all Tasmanians share with me a deep sadness and heartache that young Chace Harrison, another child involved in this terrible tragedy, has now passed away," Premier Peter Gutwein said.

"I know that our community, which is so connected, will be deeply saddened, for the family involved and indeed all the families of the now six children who have lost their lives."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Saturday an extra $800,000 will also be made available to fund trauma counselling for those impacted.

Some $250,000 will go to first responders involved in the aftermath of the accident and $550,000 to the broader community.

More than a million dollars has also been raised in the community to support those mourning the tragedy.

© AAP 2021