Cremation Regulations 1954

Before permitting any cremation he shall ensure that all documents are completed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and that there is nothing in the Act to debar him from issuing a permit, and in particular is satisfied that all of the requirements of sections 8, 8A and 8B of the Act have been complied with.

A medical referee shall provide reasonable facilities, for persons wishing to make application to cremate, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, inclusive, and between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon on Saturdays, unless prevented by urgent circumstances. He shall, when available, deal with any urgent application at other times, in which case he shall be entitled to receive the higher prescribed fee.

Forthwith after issuing a permit to cremate, the medical referee shall forward a copy of the permit marked with the permit number and date to the Chief Health Officer.

If the medical referee refuses to give a permit to cremate he shall give notice of his decision to the applicant and shall advise him of his right to apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision. He need not advise the applicant of his reasons for refusing to give the permit, but shall forthwith notify the Chief Health Officer of his decision, and the reasons therefor.

Every permit to cremate shall be in accordance with Schedule 1 Form 9.

In the case of the body of a person who has died in Australia but in any place outside the State of Western Australia, the medical referee may accept, in lieu of the forms prescribed, documents which substantially contain the information required to be supplied, and signed by persons having the status of medical practitioner or coroner, as the case may be, in the place where the person died.

The medical referee shall carefully preserve all documents received by him in the discharge of his duties, and shall deliver to the Chief Health Officer once per year any documents over 2 years old.

If any medical referee is to be absent from his usual address for more than 24 hours at one time, he shall notify the Chief Health Officer of the fact.