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Dreamworld accident: Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas donates bonus to Red Cross

Deborah Thomas, the chief executive of Dreamworld operators Ardent Leisure, says she will donate her $167,500 cash bonus to the Australian Red Cross.

The charity will then distribute the money to those affected by Tuesday's tragedy that claimed four lives.

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Dreamworld accident: Ardent Leisure boss fronts media

Ardent Leisure CEO Deborah Thomas has expressed deep sympathies and offered to cover funeral costs for the families that lost loved ones in the Dreamworld tragedy. Vision courtesy Network Ten News.

"I have been deeply affected and saddened by the tragic deaths of Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi, and Cindy Low at Dreamworld on Tuesday, in particular the impact of this incident on their children and families," Ms Thomas said in a statement on Thursday night.

"I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via the Dreamworld memorial day event.

"Red Cross will ensure 100 per cent is directed to support people affected by this tragic event." 

Ms Thomas' statement came after outgoing Ardent Leisure chairman Neil Balnaves defended the award of a near $843,000 bonus to Ms Thomas at the company's annual general meeting on Thursday morning.

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On Thursday night Ardent Leisure said the $843,000 figure was a projected bonus for Ms Thomas over a four year period. This year she will receive $167,500 in cash which will now all go to charity.

Ms Thomas, who took on the top job in March last year, had earlier said it was not the right time for the board to be discussing executive remuneration and bonuses.

"I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via ...
"I will be making a personal donation of $167,500, which comprises my entire cash bonus, to the Australian Red Cross via the Dreamworld memorial day event": Ardent Leisure chief executive Deborah Thomas. Photo: Getty Images

"We are all shattered by this ... I don't want to discuss transactions at this point. I don't think it's appropriate under the circumstances," she said. 

The change in position also came after Ms Thomas was under fire for not contacting the victim's families and after Ardent Leisure's plans to re-open the park on Friday were stopped by Queensland police.

Dreamworld's management had announced on Wednesday that they would re-open just three days after the tragedy although the lethal Thunder River Rapids ride would remain closed. 

They were forced into an embarrassing backdown on Thursday night after Mr Balnaves had defended the decision that morning by saying, "we can't return four lives".