Coroners Act 1996

If a reportable death occurs and the body is in Western Australia, the body is under the control of the coroner investigating the death, subject to any directions the State Coroner may give, until the coroner has issued a certificate under section 29(1).

While a body is under the control of the coroner investigating the death, the coroner is to ensure that any of the deceased person’s next of kin under section 37(5) who wish to view the body are permitted to do so and any of those persons who wish to touch the body are permitted to do so, unless the coroner determines that it is undesirable or dangerous to do so.