New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CORONERS ACT 1980 - SECT 9

9 Functions of assistant coroners

(1) An assistant coroner has and may exercise the following functions:

(a) the function of providing administrative assistance to a coroner under the control and direction of the coroner,

(b) such functions as may be conferred or imposed on an assistant coroner by or under this or any other Act.

(2) An assistant coroner also has and may exercise the following functions if delegated in writing to the assistant coroner by the State Coroner:

(a) the function of issuing orders for the disposal of dead bodies,

(b) the function of issuing orders for the performance of post mortem examinations,

(c) the function of dispensing with the holding of inquests if death results from natural causes,

(d) the function of dispensing with the holding of inquiries if a fire does not occur in suspicious circumstances,

(e) the function of dispensing with the holding of inquiries if a fire involved only a motor vehicle.

(3) An assistant coroner cannot hold an inquest or inquiry and the function of holding an inquest or inquiry cannot be delegated to an assistant coroner by the State Coroner.

(4) This section does not authorise an assistant coroner to exercise any function conferred or imposed on a coroner, except as specifically provided for by delegation under this section or by this or any other Act.

(5) Section 49 of the Interpretation Act 1987 applies to a delegation under this section.