Coroners Act 2003

This section outlines—

the type of deaths that may be investigated under this Act; and

the type of coroner who conducts the investigations.

A coroner must, and may only, investigate a death if the coroner—

considers the death is a reportable death, whether or not the death was reported under section 7; and

is not aware that any other coroner is investigating the death.

Also, a coroner must investigate a death if the State Coroner directs the coroner to investigate the death.

The State Coroner may direct a coroner to investigate a death if—

the State Coroner considers the death is a reportable death; or

the State Coroner has been directed by the Minister to have the death investigated, whether or not the death is a reportable death.

Also, a coroner must investigate the suspected death of a person if the State Coroner directs the coroner to investigate the suspected death.

The State Coroner may direct a coroner to investigate a suspected death if—

the State Coroner—

suspects that the person is dead; and

considers the death is a reportable death; or

the Minister directs the State Coroner to have the suspected death investigated.

Despite subsection (2), a death in custody, or a death mentioned in section 8(3)(h) that is not also a death in custody, must be investigated by—

the State Coroner; or

a Deputy State Coroner; or

an appointed coroner or local coroner, approved by the Governor in Council to investigate a particular death in custody, or a death mentioned in section 8(3)(h) that is not also a death in custody, or any death in custody, or a death mentioned in section 8(3)(h) that is not also a death in custody, on the recommendation of the Chief Magistrate in consultation with the State Coroner.