Page 4828 - Week 15 - Thursday, 16 December 1993

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I TABLED AN EXPOSURE DRAFT CORONERS (AMENDMENT) BILL FOR COMMUNITY COMMENT AND CONSULTATION. THE LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS CONSIDERING THE EXPOSURE DRAFT OF THE BILL AND HAS INDICATED THAT IT WILL REPORT ON THE BILL BY 31 MARCH 1994. THE PERIOD FOR COMMENT OF THE EXPOSURE DRAFT OF THE BILL WAS FOR THREE MONTHS FROM JUNE THIS YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT SEES IT AS IMPORTANT THAT THE TERRITORYS RESPONSE TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO ABORIGINAL DEATHS IN CUSTODY IS IMPLEMENTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND HAS, ACCORDINGLY, DECIDED TO PROCEED WITH THE BILL.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WAS DESIRED AS TO THE MANNER IN WHICH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION RELATING TO CORONIAL INQUESTS WERE TO BE ADDRESSED. THE RESPONSES OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE DRAFT BILL ARE APPRECIATED. THE BILL WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REFINED FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD TO PRODUCE THE BILL I PRESENT TODAY.

HOWEVER, I RECENTLY ANNOUNCED A NEED TO REVIEW THE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES OF THE CORONIAL JURISDICTION IN RELATION TO THE CONSIDERATION OF RELIGIOUS AND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AT DEATH AND ANY APPROPRIATE CONCERNS THE COMMITTEE HAS COULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THAT EXERCISE IN THE NEW YEAR. I HAVE WRITTEN TO THE CHAIR, OF THE COMMITTEE, MR HUMPHRIES IN THESE TERMS. MY DEPARTMENT WILL CONSULT WITH THE ETHNIC COMMUNITIES COUNCIL AND OTHER COMMUNITY BODIES IN FORMULATING THIS FUTURE LEGISLATION.

THE CHIEF MINISTER MADE AN UNDERTAKING THAT INITIATIVES PROPOSED IN RESPONSE TO THE ROYAL COMMISSIONS RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD INVOLVE ABORIGINAL PEOPLE FROM THE PLANNING STAGE TO FINAL IMPLEMENTATION. THE A.C.T. ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ADVISORY COUNCIL, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED EARLIER IN THE YEAR, REVIEWED THE BILL AND I THANK THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE TIME AND CONSIDERATION THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS BILL.

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