CORONERS ACT 2003 - SECT 46 Coroner’s comments

CORONERS ACT 2003 - SECT 46

46 Coroner’s comments

(1) A coroner may, whenever appropriate, comment on anything connected with a death investigated at an inquest that relates to—

(a) public health or safety; or

(b) the administration of justice; or

(c) ways to prevent deaths from happening in similar circumstances in the future.

(2) The coroner must give a written copy of the comments to—

(a) a family member of the deceased person who has indicated that he or she will accept the document for the deceased person’s family; and

(b) any person who, as a person with a sufficient interest in the inquest, appeared at the inquest; and

(c) if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner; and

(d) if a government entity deals with the matters to which the comment relates—

(i) the Attorney-General; and

(ii) the Minister administering the entity; and

(iii) the chief executive officer of the entity; and

(e) if the comments relate to the death of a child—

(i) the family and child commissioner; and

(ii) the chief executive (child safety).

(3) The coroner must not include in the comments any statement that a person is, or may be—

(a) guilty of an offence; or

(b) civilly liable for something.