Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) This section outlines--
(a) the type of deaths that may be investigated under this Act; and
(b) the type of coroner who conducts the investigations.
(2) A coroner must, and may only, investigate a death if the coroner--
(a) considers the death is a reportable death, whether or not the death was reported under section 7; and
(b) is not aware that any other coroner is investigating the death.
(3) Also, a coroner must investigate a death if the State Coroner directs the coroner to investigate the death.
(4) The State Coroner may direct a coroner to investigate a death if--
(a) the State Coroner considers the death is a reportable death; or
(b) the State Coroner has been directed by the Minister to have the death investigated, whether or not the death is a reportable death.
Example--
The Minister might direct the State Coroner to investigate the death of a Queensland person that happened overseas, even though the death was investigated by a coroner overseas, if the Minister is concerned that the overseas investigation was not comprehensive enough.
(5) Also, a coroner must investigate the suspected death of a person if the State Coroner directs the coroner to investigate the suspected death.
(6) The State Coroner may direct a coroner to investigate a suspected death if--
(a) the State Coroner--
(i) suspects that the person is dead; and
(ii) considers the death is a reportable death; or
(b) the Minister directs the State Coroner to have the suspected death investigated.
(7) Despite subsection (2), a death in custody must be investigated by--
(a) the State Coroner; or
(b) the Deputy State Coroner; or
(c) an appointed coroner or local coroner, approved by the Governor in Council to investigate a particular death in custody or any death in custody, on the recommendation of the Chief Magistrate in consultation with the State Coroner.