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CORONERS ACT 1997

Table of Provisions

PART 1--PRELIMINARY

Division 1.1--Introduction

  • 1 Name of Act  
  • 2 Dictionary  
  • 3A Notes  
  • 3B Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc  

Division 1.2--Objects and important concepts

PART 2--THE CORONER'S COURT

Division 2.1--Establishment

  • 4 Establishment  

Division 2.2--Appointment etc of coroners

  • 5 Coroners  
  • 6 Chief Coroner  
  • 7 Chief Coroner's functions  
  • 8 Deputy coroners  
  • 9 Deputy coroners' functions  
  • 10 Oath to be taken by coroner or deputy coroner  
  • 11 Registrar and deputy registrars  
  • 11A Coroner for matter not available  

PART 3--JURISDICTION OF CORONERS

Division 3.1--Inquests into deaths

  • 12 General functions and jurisdiction of coroner  
  • 13 Coroner's jurisdiction in relation to deaths  
  • 15 Control and release of body of deceased  
  • 17 Assistance to State and other Territory coroners  
  • 17A Considerations before exercising function or making decision  

Division 3.2--Inquiries into fires

  • 18 Coroner's jurisdiction in relation to fires  

Division 3.3--Inquiries into disasters

  • 19 Coroner's jurisdiction in relation to disasters  

PART 4--POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS AND EXHUMATIONS

  • 19A Meaning of ancillary examination—pt 4  
  • 19B Directions to obtain medical records  
  • 19C Ancillary examination  
  • 20 Dispensing with post-mortem examination  
  • 21 Directions to doctors to conduct post-mortem examinations  
  • 22 Unavailability of doctor directed to conduct a post-mortem examination  
  • 23 Consideration of immediate family  
  • 24 Reconsideration of decisions  
  • 25 Previous attending doctor entitled to observe post-mortem  
  • 27 Warrant for exhumation of body or recovery of ashes  
  • 29 Form of warrant for exhumation  
  • 30 Reinterment of remains or ashes  
  • 31 Removal of body or ashes for purposes of inquest outside the ACT  
  • 32 Report by doctor or analyst  
  • 33 Assistance at post-mortems etc  

PART 5--INQUESTS AND INQUIRIES

Division 5.1--Hearings

  • 34 Hearings  
  • 34A Decision not to conduct hearing  
  • 35 Time and place of hearing  
  • 36 Adjournment of hearing  
  • 37 Notification of immediate family  
  • 38 Notice relating to conduct of hearing  
  • 39 Inquests into non-custodial deaths and inquiries—discretion to appoint counsel  
  • 39A Functions of counsel assisting  
  • 39B Counsel assisting—revocation of appointment  
  • 40 Hearing in public except in certain cases  
  • 41 Hearing to be held without jury  
  • 42 Representation at hearing  
  • 42A Appearance by audiovisual or audio links  

Division 5.2--Witnesses

  • 43 Power of coroner to subpoena witnesses etc  
  • 44 Service of subpoena on witness  
  • 45 Arrest of witness  
  • 46 People about to leave ACT—examination and production of documents  

Division 5.3--Evidence and procedure

  • 47 Rules of evidence do not apply  
  • 48 Evidence  
  • 49 Record of proceedings  
  • 50 Informal request for evidence  
  • 51 Access to documents etc  
  • 51A Practice and procedure for inquests and inquiries  
  • 51B Privilege in relation to self-incrimination in coronial inquest or  

Division 5.4--Findings and reports

  • 52 Coroner's findings  
  • 53 Interim findings  
  • 54 Requests for copies of findings  
  • 55 Adverse comment in findings or reports  
  • 56 Notification of registrar-general  
  • 57 Report after inquest or inquiry  
  • 57A Correction of errors  

Division 5.5--Indictable offences

  • 58 Procedure where evidence of indictable offence or indictment to be  
  • 58A When inquest or inquiry may proceed—s 58  

Division 5.6--General powers of coroners

  • 59 Investigators  
  • 60 Coroner not to be called as witness  
  • 61 Coroner not required to view the subject matter of inquest or  
  • 62 Coroner may act on a Sunday  
  • 63 Police assistance  
  • 64 Request for hearing or for reconsideration of certain decisions  
  • 65 Restriction of access  
  • 66 Search warrants  
  • 67 Inspection and retention of seized things  
  • 68 Chief Coroner—power to hold fresh inquest or inquiry  

Division 5.7--Other requirements

  • 68A Coroner to give information to immediate family  

PART 5A--CORONIAL INVESTIGATION SCENES

  • 68B Definitions—pt 5A  
  • 68C Coronial investigation scene order  
  • 68D Establishment of coronial investigation scene  
  • 68E Coronial investigation scene powers  
  • 68F Senior police officer may establish scene for expected coronial  
  • 68G Exercise of investigation scene powers under pt 5A  
  • 68H Part does not limit other powers  

PART 6--DEATHS IN CARE AND DEATHS IN CUSTODY--ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

  • 69 Consideration of deceased's family etc  
  • 70 Viewing of body etc  
  • 71 Post-mortem examinations by pathologists  
  • 72 Inquest into death in care or death in custody—appointment of counsel  
  • 73 Records of deaths in care and deaths in custody  
  • 74 Findings about quality of care, treatment and supervision  
  • 75 Copies of reports of findings  
  • 76 Response to reports  

PART 7--OFFENCES

  • 76A Application of Criminal Code, ch 7  
  • 77 Obligation to report death  
  • 78 Obligation to report death in care or death in custody  
  • 83 Improper dealing with body or ashes of dead person  
  • 89 Acts and omissions of representatives  

PART 8--POWERS OF SUPREME COURT

  • 90 Application to hold hearing for inquest or inquiry into fire  
  • 91 Supreme Court—general  
  • 92 Supreme Court—power to order inquest or inquiry  
  • 93 Supreme Court—power to quash, or order fresh, inquest or  

PART 9--WITNESS EXPENSES AND OTHER AMOUNTS

  • 98 Witness expenses  
  • 99 Amounts payable to assistants  

PART 10--MISCELLANEOUS

  • 99A Contempt of Coroner's Court  
  • 99B Protection if information given to coroner  
  • 100 Deaths in institutions—retention of records of dead person  
  • 100A Attorney-general may make guidelines for responses  
  • 101 Court seal  
  • 102 Annual report of court  
  • 103 Regulation-making power  

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