Coroners Act 2003

A person may apply to the coroner investigating a person’s death to hold an inquest into the death.

The application must—

be written; and

outline why the applicant considers it is in the public interest for an inquest to be held.

The coroner must, within the prescribed period, decide the application and give written reasons for the decision to—

the applicant; and

if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner.

If the coroner decides not to hold an inquest, the person may apply for an order that an inquest be held to—

if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner; or

if the coroner is the State Coroner—the District Court.

The application must be made within 14 days after the person receives the written reasons for the coroner’s decision.

If the State Coroner refuses an application, the person may apply to the District Court.

The application must be made within 14 days after the person receives the written reasons for the State Coroner’s decision.

The State Coroner or District Court may order that an inquest be held if satisfied it is in the public interest to hold the inquest.

In this section—prescribed period, for the coroner to decide the application, means—

6 months after the coroner receives the application; or

the longer period the coroner considers necessary to enable the coroner to obtain relevant information for making the decision.