Page 4827 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993

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CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO 2)1993

MADAM SPEAKER, I MOVE THAT THIS BILL BE AGREED TO IN PRINCIPLE.

THE CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL (NO 2) 1993 BILL WAS PREPARED TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY AND AS A CONSEQUENCE OF A REVIEW OF THE CORONERS ACT 1956.

THE CORONERS COURT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST OF OUR LEGAL INSTITUTIONS. IN EARLIER TIMES, THE CORONER WAS AN AGENT OF THE CROWN APPOINTED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO COLLECT CERTAIN REVENUES AND TO HOLD AN INQUISITION TO FIND THE IDENTITY OF A PERSON FOUND DEAD AND THE CAUSE AND PLACE OF THE DEATH. FINES PAID AND GOODS FORFEITED BY ANY PERSON SUBSEQUENTLY HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH WERE COLLECTED AND HELD BY THE CORONER.

THE CORONIAL JURISDICTION HAS MOVED ON FROM THESE EARLY BEGINNINGS, BUT AN INQUISITORIAL HEARING TO FIND OUT THE IDENTITY OF A DECEASED PERSON, AND THE PLACE AND CAUSE OF THE DEATH REMAINS THE CHIEF ASPECT OF THE JURISDICTION. TODAY THE EMPHASIS IS ON UNCOVERING THE CAUSES AND CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING A SUDDEN, NON-NATURAL OR SUSPICIOUS DEATH FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY. THE CORONER HAS AN IMPORTANT FUNCTION IN INFORMING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT NON-NATURAL DEATHS SO THAT SIMILAR FATALITIES CAN BE PREVENTED IN THE FUTURE.

IN TABLING THE GOVERNMENTS RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY, THE CHIEF MINISTER NOTED THE NEED FOR REFORM IN THE AREA OF CORONIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE LAW GOVERNING CORONIAL INQUESTS WHICH THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS HAD IDENTIFIED. THE CHIEF MINISTER FORESHADOWED THE AMENDMENT OF THE CORONERS ACT 1956 TO IMPLEMENT THE RELEVANT RECOMMENDATIONS.

THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY WILL RECALL THAT ON 17 JUNE 1993

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