Coroners Act 2003

An Act to provide for a coronial system, and for other purposes

1Short title

This Act may be cited as the Coroners Act 2003.

2Commencement

(1)The amendment of the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 in schedule 1 commences on 1 May 2003.

(2)The remaining provisions commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3Object of Act

The object of this Act is to—

(a)establish the position of the State Coroner; and

(b)require the reporting of particular deaths; and

(c)establish the procedures for investigations, including by holding inquests, by coroners into particular deaths; and

(d)help to prevent deaths from similar causes happening in the future by allowing coroners at inquests to comment on matters connected with deaths, including matters related to—

(i)public health or safety; or

(ii)the administration of justice; and

(e)establish the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board to review deaths related to domestic and family violence to prevent or reduce the likelihood of those deaths.

s 3 amd 2015 No. 18 s 4

4Act binds all persons

This Act binds all persons, including the State and, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Commonwealth and the other States.

5Relationship with other Acts

(1)This Act is subject to the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950, section 4A.

(2)This Act does not limit or otherwise affect the functions or powers of—

(a)a police officer or other person to investigate a death under another Act; or

(b)a police officer to do something other than an investigation under this Act.

Example—

A police officer helping a coroner to investigate a death may at the same time investigate whether the death was a homicide.

6Definitions

The dictionary in schedule 2 defines particular words used in this Act.

7Duty to report deaths

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person becomes aware of a death that appears to be a reportable death; and

(b)the person does not reasonably believe that someone else has already reported, or is reporting, the death under subsection (3).

(2)Despite subsection (1)(b), a relevant service provider who becomes aware of a death in care as mentioned in section 9(1)(a) or (e) must report the death under subsection (3), regardless of whether someone else has reported or may report the death.

Note—

Under section 9(3), a person’s death is a death in care even if the deceased person died somewhere other than the place where the deceased person ordinarily lived for the purposes of being in care.

(3)The person must immediately report the death to—

(a)if the death happened in the course of or as a result of police operations—the State Coroner or the Deputy State Coroner; or

(b)if the death is a death in custody—the State Coroner or Deputy State Coroner; or

(c)otherwise—a police officer or coroner.

Maximum penalty—25 penalty units.

(4)A police officer to whom a death is reported under this section must report the death to a coroner in writing.

(5)However, if a death is reported to a police officer because a cause of death certificate has not been issued and is not likely to be issued, the officer need not report the death to a coroner until satisfied that the cause of death certificate is not likely to be issued.

(6)A coroner to whom a death is reported must report the death to the State Coroner in writing.

(7)Nothing in this section prevents a person from reporting a death in the way mentioned in subsection (3) if the person considers the death may be a reportable death.

(8)In this section—

relevant service provider means—

(a)in relation to the death in care of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(a)—the provider of the residential service, or accommodation, mentioned in that section in which the person ordinarily lived for the purposes of being in care; or

(b)in relation to the death in care of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(e)—the registered NDIS provider that was providing the services or supports mentioned in that section.

report includes report by email or fax.

s 7 amd 2009 No. 32 s 4; 2019 No. 19 s 50

8Reportable death defined

(1)A person’s death is a reportable death only if the death is a death to which subsection (2) and subsection (3) both apply.

(2)A death is a reportable death if—

(a)the death happened in Queensland; or

(b)although the death happened outside Queensland—

(i)the person’s body is in Queensland; or

(ii)at the time of death, the person ordinarily lived in Queensland; or

(iii)the person, at the time of death, was on a journey to or from somewhere in Queensland; or

(iv)the death was caused by an event that happened in Queensland.

(3)A death is a reportable death if—

(a)it is not known who the person is; or

(b)the death was a violent or otherwise unnatural death; or

(c)the death happened in suspicious circumstances; or

(d)the death was a health care related death; or

(e)a cause of death certificate has not been issued, and is not likely to be issued, for the person; or

(f)the death was a death in care; or

(g)the death was a death in custody; or

(h)the death happened in the course of or as a result of police operations.

Examples of police operations—

•a police motor vehicle pursuit for the purpose of apprehending a person

•an evacuation

(4)However, a death that happened outside Queensland is not a reportable death if the death has been reported to a non-Queensland coroner.

(5)Despite subsections (1) to (3), the death of a person who has self-administered, or been administered, a voluntary assisted dying substance under the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act 2021 is not a reportable death.

(6)For subsection (3)(b), an unnatural death includes the death of a person who dies at any time after receiving an injury that—

(a)caused the death; or

(b)contributed to the death and without which the person would not have died.

Examples—

•a person’s death resulting from injuries sustained by the person in a motor vehicle accident many months before the death

•a person’s death from pneumonia suffered after fracturing the person’s neck or femur

•a person’s death caused by a subdural haematoma not resulting from a bleeding disorder

s 8 amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2009 No. 32 s 5; 2021 No. 17 s 171

9Death in care defined

(1)A person’s death is a death in care if, when the person died—

(a)the person had a disability mentioned in the Disability Services Act 2006, section 11, and—

(i)was living in a level 3 accredited residential service; or

(ii)was receiving services providing accommodation to persons with a disability and operated, or wholly or partly funded, by the department in which the Disability Services Act 2006 is administered; or

(iii)was living in a residential service—

(A)that is not a private dwelling or aged care facility; and

(B)that is wholly or partly funded by the department in which the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 is administered or by a Hospital and Health Service under that Act, or at which the department or a Hospital and Health Service provides services; or

(aa)the person was, under the Forensic Disability Act 2011—

(i)being taken to, or detained in, the forensic disability service as a forensic disability client; or

(ii)being taken to an authorised mental health service under section 113(2)(b) or (4) of that Act; or

(iii)undertaking community treatment while accompanied by a practitioner within the meaning of that Act; or

(iv)absent from the forensic disability service under a temporary absence approval while accompanied by a practitioner within the meaning of that Act; or

(v)awaiting admission at an authorised mental health service under an order for the person’s transfer from the forensic disability service to the authorised mental health service; or

(b)the person was—

(i)being detained in an authorised mental health service as an involuntary patient under the Mental Health Act 2016; or

(ii)being detained in a public sector health service facility under an emergency examination authority under the Public Health Act 2005; or

(iii)being transported to or from an authorised mental health service under the Mental Health Act 2016; or

(iv)undertaking limited community treatment under the Mental Health Act 2016 while in the physical presence of a health service employee; or

(v)temporarily absent from an authorised mental health service under an approval given under the Mental Health Act 2016, section 221 while in the physical presence of a health service employee; or

(c)the person was under the guardianship of the chief executive under the Adoption Act 2009, section 57 or 65; or

(d)the person was a child who was—

(i)in the custody or guardianship of the chief executive (child safety) under the Child Protection Act 1999; or

(ii)placed in care under an assessment care agreement; or

(iii)the subject of a child protection order granting custody of the child to a person, other than a parent of the child, who is a member of the child’s family; or

(iv)the subject of a child protection order granting long-term guardianship of the child to—

(A)a suitable person, other than a parent of the child, who is a member of the child’s family; or

(B)another suitable person, other than a member of the child’s family, nominated by the chief executive; or

(e)the person was a participant who was not living in a private dwelling or an aged care facility and who was receiving or entitled to receive, under the person’s participant’s plan, services or supports—

(i)paid for wholly or partly from funding under the NDIS; and

(ii)provided by a registered NDIS provider that is registered under the NDIS Act, section 73E to provide a relevant class of supports; and

(iii)within the relevant class of supports.

(2)Subsection (1)(aa) or (b) applies even if, immediately before the person was detained, the person was in the custody of the chief executive (corrective services) under the Corrective Services Act 2006.

(3)Subsection (1) applies even if the person died somewhere other than the place where the person ordinarily lived for the purposes of being in care.

Example—

A child placed in the care of an approved foster carer becomes ill and is taken to hospital. The child dies while in hospital. The child’s death is a death in care.

(4)For subsection (1)(a)(iii)(A) and (e), the deceased person was living in a private dwelling if the dwelling was used, or used principally, as a separate residence for—

(a)if a restrictive practice was used at the dwelling in relation to the deceased person under a chapter 5B approval in effect immediately before the person died—the deceased person and 1 or more of the deceased person’s relations; or

(b)if specialist positive behaviour support was provided at the dwelling under the deceased person’s participant’s plan and the support involved the use of a restrictive practice—the deceased person and 1 or more of the deceased person’s relations; or

(c)if specialist disability accommodation was provided at the dwelling under the deceased person’s participant’s plan—the deceased person and 1 or more of the deceased person’s relations; or

(d)if paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) do not apply—the deceased person and 1 or more of the deceased person’s relations, or the deceased person only.

(5)In this section—

assessment care agreement means an assessment care agreement as defined under the Child Protection Act 1999.

authorised mental health service means an authorised mental health service as defined under the Mental Health Act 2016.

chapter 5B approval means an approval given under the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000, chapter 5B.

child protection order means a child protection order as defined under the Child Protection Act 1999.

forensic disability client means a forensic disability client as defined under the Forensic Disability Act 2011.

forensic disability service means the forensic disability service as defined under the Forensic Disability Act 2011.

level 3 accredited residential service means a residential service that has, or is required to apply for, a level 3 accreditation under the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002.

national disability insurance scheme rules means the National Disability Insurance Scheme rules made under the NDIS Act, section 209.

NDIS means National Disability Insurance Scheme under the NDIS Act.

NDIS Act means National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwlth).

participant has the meaning given by the NDIS Act, section 9.

participant’s plan, for a deceased person, means a plan for the person under the NDIS Act that was in effect under section 37 of that Act immediately before the person died.

relation, of a deceased person, means—

(a)a person who is related to the deceased person by blood, spousal relationship, adoption or a foster relationship; or

(b)if the deceased person is an Aboriginal person—a person who, under Aboriginal tradition, is regarded as a relative of the deceased person; or

(c)if the deceased person is a Torres Strait Islander—a person who, under Island custom, is regarded as a relative of the deceased person.

relevant class of supports means any of the following classes of supports under the NDIS Act—

(a)high intensity daily personal activities;

(b)assistance with daily life tasks in a group or shared living arrangement;

(c)specialist positive behaviour support that involves the use of a restrictive practice;

(d)specialist disability accommodation.

restrictive practice means—

(a)a restrictive practice within the meaning of the Disability Services Act 2006, section 144; or

(b)a regulated restrictive practice within the meaning of the national disability insurance scheme rules made for the NDIS Act, section 73H about conditions applying to registered NDIS providers in relation to the use of regulated restrictive practices.

specialist disability accommodation means SDA within the meaning of the national disability insurance scheme rules made for the NDIS Act, section 35 about the funding of SDA.

specialist positive behaviour support has the same meaning as in the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwlth).

s 9 amd 2004 No. 13 s 89; 2005 No. 40 s 69 sch; 2006 No. 12 s 241 sch 1; 2006 No. 29 s 518 s ch 3; 2009 No. 32 s 6; 2009 No. 29 s 368 sch 2; 2011 No. 13 s 166; 2011 No. 32 s 332 sch 1 pt 2 (amd 2012 No. 9 s 47); 2006 No. 12 s 333 sch 2 (amd 2014 No. 12 ss 73–74); 2016 No. 9 s 4; 2016 No. 5 s 923 sch 4 amdts 1–2, 3 (amd 2017 No. 3 s 54), 4; 2019 No. 19 s 51

10Death in custody defined

(1)A person’s death is a death in custody if, when the person died, the person was—

(a)in custody; or

(b)escaping, or trying to escape, from custody; or

(c)trying to avoid being put into custody.

Example of paragraph (c)—

a suspected bank robber who dies in a car crash while being pursued by police

(2)In this section—

custody means detention, whether or not by a police officer, under—

(a)an arrest; or

(b)the authority of a court order; or

(c)the authority of an Act of the State, other than—

(i)the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006; or

(ii)the Mental Health Act 2016; or

(iii)the Forensic Disability Act 2011; or

(d)the authority of an Act of the Commonwealth.

s 10 amd 2004 No. 43 s 3 sch; 2006 No. 29 s 518 sch 3; 2009 No. 32 s 7; 2009 No. 34 s 45 (1) sch pt 1 amdt 10 (amdt could not be given effect); 2011 No. 13 s 167; 2016 No. 5 s 923 sch 4

10AAHealth care related death defined

(1)A person’s death is a health care related death if, after the commencement, the person dies at any time after receiving health care that—

(a)either—

(i)caused or is likely to have caused the death; or

(ii)contributed to or is likely to have contributed to the death; and

(b)immediately before receiving the health care, an independent person would not have reasonably expected that the health care would cause or contribute to the person’s death.

(2)A person’s death is also a health care related death if, after the commencement, the person dies at any time after health care was sought for the person and the health care, or a particular type of health care, failed to be provided to the person and—

(a)the failure either—

(i)caused or is likely to have caused the death; or

(ii)contributed or is likely to have contributed to the death; and

(b)when health care was sought, an independent person would not have reasonably expected that there would be a failure to provide health care, or the particular type of health care, that would cause or contribute to the person’s death.

(3)For this section—

(a)health care contributes to a person’s death if the person would not have died at the time of the person’s death if the health care had not been provided; and

(b)a failure to provide health care contributes to a person’s death if the person would not have died at the time of the person’s death if the health care had been provided.

(4)For this section, a reference to an independent person is a reference to an independent person appropriately qualified in the relevant area or areas of health care who has had regard to all relevant matters including, for example, the following—

(a)the deceased person’s state of health as it was thought to be when the health care started or was sought;

Example of a person’s state of health—

an underlying disease, condition or injury and its natural progression

(b)the clinically accepted range of risk associated with the health care;

(c)the circumstances in which the health care was provided or sought.

Example for paragraph (c)—

It would be reasonably expected that a moribund elderly patient with other natural diseases would die following surgery for a ruptured aortic aneurysm.

(5)In this section—

commencement means the commencement of this section.

health care means—

(a)any health procedure; or

(b)any care, treatment, advice, service or goods provided for or purportedly for the benefit of human health.

s 10AA ins 2009 No. 32 s 8

10AState Coroner to notify family and child commissioner of deaths

(1)If the death of a child is reported to the State Coroner under section 7, the State Coroner must, within 30 days after receiving the report—

(a)notify the family and child commissioner of the death; and

(b)if a report about the death was given under section 7(4) by a police officer to a coroner—give the family and child commissioner a copy of the report unless the State Coroner considers that giving the report is likely to prejudice an investigation by a coroner or police officer.

(2)Before giving the family and child commissioner a copy of a report under subsection (1)(b), the State Coroner must ensure that all information in the report that identifies anyone is obliterated.

(3)However, the State Coroner need not obliterate information if the State Coroner reasonably believes the person’s identity is necessary for the family and child commissioner’s child death research functions.

s 10A ins 2004 No. 13 s 90

amd 2009 No. 32 s 9; 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

11Deaths to be investigated

(1)This section outlines—

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

(b)the type of coroner who conducts the investigations.

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

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

(b)is not aware that any other coroner is investigating the death.

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

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

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

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

Example—

The Minister might direct the State Coroner to investigate the death of a Queensland person that happened overseas, even though the death was investigated by a coroner overseas, if the Minister is concerned that the overseas investigation was not comprehensive enough.

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

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

(a)the State Coroner—

(i)suspects that the person is dead; and

(ii)considers the death is a reportable death; or

(b)the Minister directs the State Coroner to have the suspected death investigated.

(7)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—

(a)the State Coroner; or

(b)the Deputy State Coroner; or

(c)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.

s 11 amd 2005 No. 70 s 46; 2009 No. 32 s 10

11AA Preliminary examinations

(1)After a police officer reports a person’s death to a coroner under section 7(4), an examination for the deceased person’s body (a preliminary examination) may be performed under this section.

(2)The purpose of the preliminary examination is to assist a coroner in the performance of the coroner’s functions under this Act relating to the person’s death.

Example of a coroner’s function—

deciding whether a death is a reportable death

(3)The preliminary examination may include only the following procedures performed for the deceased person’s body, alone or in combination—

(a)a visual examination of the body, including a dental examination;

(b)the collection and review of relevant information, including personal and health information relating to the deceased person or the death of the person;

(c)the taking, including by making an incision in the body, of samples of bodily fluid from the body, including blood, urine, saliva, mucus and vitreous humour samples, and the testing of those samples;

(d)the imaging of the body, including the use of computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan), x-ray, ultrasound and photography;

(e)the taking of samples from the surface of the body, including swabs from wounds and inner cheek, hair samples and samples from under fingernails and from the skin, and the testing of those samples;

(f)the fingerprinting of the body.

(4)A doctor who is listed in the guidelines as a doctor approved by the State Coroner to perform preliminary examinations (an examiner), or a suitably qualified person under the general supervision of an examiner, may perform the preliminary examination for the person’s body.

Example of a suitably qualified person—

a coronial nurse

(5)Before the examiner, or a person supervised by the examiner, performs the preliminary examination for the person’s body, the examiner must, whenever practicable, consider at least the following—

(a)that in some cases the person’s family may be distressed by the procedures to be performed in the examination, including, for example, because of cultural traditions or spiritual beliefs;

(b)any concerns raised by a family member, or another person with a sufficient interest, in relation to the procedures to be performed for the examination.

(6)As soon as practicable after the preliminary examination is completed, the examiner must—

(a)prepare a preliminary examination report; and

(b)give the report to a coroner.

(7)In this section—

preliminary examination report means a written report containing information about a preliminary examination performed for a deceased person, including, for example, information about the following—

(a)the results of any procedures or tests that were performed as part of the preliminary examination;

(b)the cause of the person’s death, if known.

s 11AA ins 2020 No. 15 s 28

11AReviewing coroner’s decision about whether death is a reportable death

(1)A person dissatisfied with a coroner’s decision about whether a death that happens after the commencement of this section is a reportable death may apply for an order about whether it is a reportable death.

(2)The application must be made to—

(a)if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner; or

(b)if the coroner is the State Coroner—the District Court.

(3)A person dissatisfied with the State Coroner’s decision under subsection (2)(a) may apply to the District Court.

(4)An application under subsection (3) must be made within 14 days after the person receives written reasons for the decision.

(5)If the State Coroner or the District Court orders that the death is a reportable death, the coroner is taken to have considered the death to be a reportable death for section 11(2)(a).

s 11A ins 2009 No. 32 s 11

12Not investigating or stopping investigation of particular deaths

(1)A coroner must not investigate a death, unless directed to do so by the Minister or by the State Coroner under section 11(4)(b), if—

(a)the death happened in another State and has been reported to a non-Queensland coroner; or

(b)the death happened outside Australia.

(2)A coroner must stop investigating a death if—

(a)the coroner’s investigation shows that the body is indigenous burial remains; or

(b)each of the following applies—

(i)the death was not a reportable death under section 8(3)(a) or (g);

(ii)the coroner’s investigation shows that an autopsy of the body is not necessary;

(iii)the coroner decides to authorise a doctor to issue a cause of death certificate; or

(c)an autopsy of the body, ordered by the coroner, shows that the body is that of a stillborn child; or

(d)the State Coroner directs the coroner to stop the investigation; or

(e)the coroner becomes aware that the death is a death mentioned in subsection (1), unless the Minister directs the coroner to continue the investigation.

(3)If the coroner stops investigating the death under subsection (2)(e), the coroner may give the results of the coroner’s investigation, including any autopsy report, to a non-Queensland coroner who is investigating the death.

(4)A coroner may stop investigating a death if—

(a)the death was a reportable death only under section 8(2) and (3)(e); and

(b)an autopsy has been conducted and an autopsy certificate has been given to the coroner under section 24A(3)(b); and

(c)the coroner, having regard to the circumstances of the death and the autopsy certificate, is satisfied the death was a natural death.

s 12 amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2009 No. 32 s 12; 2020 No. 15 s 29

13Coroner’s powers of investigation

(1)This section applies to a coroner who is investigating a death under this Act, whether before or during an inquest.

(2)The coroner may make, or arrange for, any examination, inspection, report or test that the coroner considers is necessary for the investigation.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the coroner may authorise a doctor or nurse to take a sample of the deceased person’s blood for testing.

(4)For the purposes of the investigation, the coroner may issue a search warrant under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 599(1).

(5)The coroner may be present while a police officer exercises powers under the search warrant.

(6)In this section—

nurse means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—

(a)to practise in the nursing profession, other than as a student; and

(b)in the registered nurses division of that profession.

s 13 amd 2000 No. 5 s 810 sch 4 (amd 2006 No. 26 ss 84, 86); 2009 No. 32 s 13; 2010 No. 14 s 124 sch; 2017 No. 32 s 87 (2) sch 1

14Guidelines and directions for investigations

(1)To ensure best practice in the coronial system, the State Coroner—

(a)may issue directions to the coroner investigating a particular death about a particular aspect of the investigation; and

(b)must issue guidelines to all coroners about the performance of their functions in relation to investigations generally.

Example—

a guideline to help coroners make decisions about the release of documents under this Act

(2)When preparing the guidelines, the State Coroner must have regard to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody that relate to the investigation of deaths in custody.

(3)The guidelines must—

(a)deal with the investigations of deaths in custody; and

(b)deal with investigations of deaths involving human remains found in a suspected traditional burial site, and in particular, must provide for the early notification and involvement of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community having a connection with the burial site; and

(c)list the doctors who are approved by the State Coroner to perform preliminary examinations, either by name or by reference to particular qualifications; and

(d)list the doctors who are approved by the State Coroner to conduct particular types of autopsies, either by name or by reference to particular qualifications.

(4)Without limiting subsection (1)(b) or (3), the State Coroner may also issue guidelines applying to all persons who carry out a function under this Act about the following—

(a)the types of reportable death mentioned in section 8;

(b)a preliminary examination for section 11AA;

(c)a preliminary investigation to decide whether a death is a reportable death;

(d)the investigation of a suspected death;

(e)any other matter that is relevant and desirable to ensure best practice in the coronial system.

(5)When investigating a death, a coroner must comply with the guidelines and any directions issued to the coroner to the greatest practicable extent.

(6)However, to the extent that a direction conflicts with the guidelines, a coroner must comply with the direction.

(7)In this section—

direction does not include a direction as to what finding a coroner may make for an investigation.

traditional burial site means a place that is a traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander burial site.

s 14 amd 2009 No. 32 s 14; 2020 No. 15 s 30

15Help in investigation

(1)During the investigation of a death, a coroner may seek the help of a lawyer or other person who the coroner reasonably believes can help the coroner investigate the death.

(2)The duty of a police officer to help a coroner is stated in the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 794.

s 15 amd 2000 No. 5 s 810 sch 4 (amd 2006 No. 26 ss 84, 86)

16Duty to help investigation

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a coroner is investigating a death; and

(b)the coroner reasonably believes a person may be able to give the coroner information, a document or anything else that is relevant to the investigation.

(2)The coroner may require the person to give the coroner information, a document or anything else that is relevant to the investigation.

(3)The requirement may be made orally or in writing.

(4)When making the requirement, the coroner must warn the person it is an offence to fail to comply with the requirement unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

(5)The person must comply with the requirement, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—30 penalty units.

(6)It is, for example, a reasonable excuse for a person to fail to comply with the requirement if complying with the requirement would tend to incriminate the person.

s 16 amd 2009 No. 32 s 15

17Disclosure of confidential information to coroner

(1)This section applies to a provision in another Act that enables the release of confidential information to—

(a)a court; or

(b)a party to a proceeding before a court.

Examples—

Child Protection Act 1999, section 186C (Disclosure in proceeding) or 190 (Production of department’s records)

Youth Justice Act 1992, section 299 (Production of department’s records)

(2)The provision is taken to enable the disclosure of the information to a coroner investigating a death as if—

(a)a reference to the court is a reference to a coroner; and

(b)a reference to a proceeding is a reference to an investigation; and

(c)a reference to a party is a reference to—

(i)a police officer, lawyer or other person helping the coroner; or

(ii)a person who is to appear or is appearing at an inquest.

(3)To remove doubt, it is declared that this section does not negate anything in a provision that—

(a)allows a person to refuse to release confidential information or produce a document containing confidential information; and

Example—

the Health Ombudsman Act 2013, section 274

(b)requires a person to consent before information may be released.

Example—

the Health Ombudsman Act 2013, section 149

(4)A coroner may only disclose information obtained under this section for a purpose connected with the investigation being conducted by the coroner.

(5)A person who has been given access to confidential information by a coroner, including information in a document, must not directly or indirectly disclose the information—

(a)other than for the investigation; or

(b)unless the disclosure is permitted or required under this or another Act.

Maximum penalty for subsection (5)—100 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment.

s 17 amd 2004 No. 43 s 3 sch; 2006 No. 25 s 241 (1) sch 3; 2007 No. 37 s 162 sch; 2009 No. 32 s 16; 2009 No. 34 s 45 (1) sch pt 1 amdt 10; 2013 No. 36 s 331 sch 1; 2022 No. 7 s 132 sch 1

17AProtection from liability for giving information and other things to coroner

(1)A person is not liable, civilly, criminally or under an administrative process, for giving a coroner any of the following—

(a)information, a document or anything else (the required item) in compliance with a requirement made under section 16;

(b)confidential information under section 17.

(2)Also, merely because the person gives the required item or confidential information, the person can not be held to have—

(a)breached any code of professional etiquette or ethics; or

(b)departed from accepted standards of professional conduct.

(3)Without limiting subsections (1) and (2)—

(a)in a proceeding for defamation, the person has a defence of absolute privilege for publishing the required item or confidential information; and

(b)if the person would otherwise be required to maintain confidentiality about the required item or confidential information under an Act, oath or rule of law or practice, the person—

(i)does not contravene the Act, oath or rule of law or practice by giving the required item or confidential information; and

(ii)is not liable to disciplinary action for giving the required item or confidential information.

s 17A ins 2009 No. 32 s 17

18Transferring body to mortuary

(1)This section applies if a body is to be taken to a mortuary at the direction of—

(a)a coroner; or

(b)a police officer under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 597.

(2)A person who is involved in taking the body to the mortuary must comply with—

(a)any direction of the coroner or police officer; or

(b)the guidelines issued by the State Coroner about—

(i)the dignity and respect to be accorded to persons who are at a place from which a body is to be taken, and their cultural traditions or spiritual beliefs; and

(ii)the way in which bodies are to be taken to a mortuary.

(3)However, to the extent that a direction conflicts with the guidelines, the person must comply with the direction.

(4)In this section—

mortuary means a mortuary where autopsies ordered by coroners are conducted.

s 18 amd 2000 No. 5 s 810 sch 4 (amd 2006 No. 26 ss 84, 86)

18AArrangements for and guidelines about assessing suitability of body for Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979

(1)This section applies if a prescribed tissue bank is a party to an arrangement under section 54AA to access section 7(4) reports.

(2)Before an autopsy is performed on a body, the prescribed tissue bank, or a person acting for the prescribed tissue bank, may conduct an external examination of the body for the purpose of assessing whether the body is suitable for the removal of tissue for the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979.

(3)However, subsection (2) does not apply if the State Coroner, the coroner who is investigating the death, or a person acting for the prescribed tissue bank is aware that the deceased person had, during his or her lifetime, objected to the removal after death of tissue from his or her body.

(4)A person who conducts the examination must comply with—

(a)any directions of the coroner; and

(b)any guidelines issued by the State Coroner about the conduct of the process by which donor suitability for the removal of tissue under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979 is assessed.

(5)However, to the extent that a direction conflicts with the guidelines, the person must comply with the direction.

(6)In this section—

tissue see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 4(1).

s 18A ins 2009 No. 32 s 18

19Order for autopsy

(1)This section does not apply if a coroner—

(a)has stopped investigating a death under section 12(2)(a), (b), (d) or (e); or

(b)is investigating a suspected death under section 11(6).

(2)A coroner may order a doctor to perform an autopsy if the coroner considers an autopsy is necessary for the investigation of a death or to find out whether a body is that of a stillborn child.

(3)The autopsy may consist of—

(a)for a body that has been cremated—an examination of the cremated remains of the body; or

(b)for a body that has not been cremated—

(i)an external examination of the body; or

(ii)an external and partial internal examination of the body; or

(iii)an external and full internal examination of the body.

Example of a partial internal examination—

If the only apparent injuries to a deceased person’s body are to the person’s head, the coroner may consider it appropriate that only the person’s head be examined internally.

(4)The coroner must state in the order the type of examination to be conducted.

(5)Before ordering an internal examination of the body, the coroner must, whenever practicable, consider at least the following—

(a)that in some cases a deceased person’s family may be distressed by the making of this type of order, for example, because of cultural traditions or spiritual beliefs;

(b)any concerns raised by a family member, or another person with a sufficient interest, in relation to the type of examination to be conducted during the autopsy.

(6)If, after considering any concern mentioned in subsection (5)(b), the coroner decides it is still necessary to order the internal examination, the coroner must give a copy of the order to the person who raised the concern.

(7)The coroner must direct the order to 1 of the doctors who is listed in the guidelines as a doctor who is approved by the State Coroner to conduct particular types of autopsies and has the necessary skills to conduct the autopsy having regard to the particular circumstances of the case.

Example—

Particular doctors may have the necessary skills to conduct autopsies on adults but not on children.

(8)However, the coroner must not allow—

(a)a person to conduct or help at the autopsy if the person is accused, by someone on oath before a coroner, of causing the deceased person’s death; or

(b)an attending doctor to conduct the autopsy, unless the coroner considers it is impracticable to do otherwise.

(9)A coroner may make an order under this section even if—

(a)an autopsy has previously been conducted on the body, either under this Act or under another lawful authority; or

(b)a cause of death certificate has issued for the deceased person; or

(c)the death has previously been investigated under this Act; or

(d)the death was reported to the coroner on or after 1 December 2003 but before the commencement of the Justice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005, section 47.

s 19 amd 2005 No. 70 s 47; 2020 No. 15 s 31

20Exhuming body or recovering cremated remains

(1)This section applies if, after a body is buried or cremated, the State Coroner forms the belief that the death was a reportable death.

(2)To enable an autopsy of a body to be conducted, the State Coroner may order—

(a)if the body was buried—the body to be exhumed; or

(b)if the body was cremated and the cremated remains may be recovered—the cremated remains to be recovered.

(3)The State Coroner must give at least 2 days notice of the State Coroner’s intention to make the order to—

(a)the person in charge of the place where the body is, or the cremated remains are; and

(b)any person who the State Coroner considers has a sufficient interest in the autopsy.

(4)Subsection (3) does not apply if—

(a)after taking all reasonable steps, the State Coroner can not contact a person mentioned in subsection (3); or

(b)the State Coroner considers it is not, in the circumstances, in the public interest to notify a person mentioned in subsection (3).

(5)If—

(a)a person has raised a concern in relation to the order being made; but

(b)after discussing the matter with the person, the State Coroner considers it is in the public interest for the order to be made;

the State Coroner must make the order and give a copy of it to the person.

(6)The order authorises a police officer to enter the place stated in the order and stay there for as long as reasonably necessary to exhume the body or recover the cremated remains.

(7)The officer must arrange for the body or cremated remains to be taken, in accordance with the directions in the order, to a place stated in the order.

(8)The State Coroner must, as soon as reasonably practicable after the autopsy, order the body or cremated remains to be returned to the place from where they were taken.

21Observing an autopsy

(1)The coroner, or a police officer who is investigating a death under this or another Act, is entitled to observe and participate in the autopsy.

(2)If the coroner considers it appropriate, a person may observe and participate in an autopsy for his or her vocational or clinical education or training with the consent of the doctor who is conducting the autopsy.

Examples—

an attending doctor, medical students, mortuary staff, nurses and police officers

(3)The coroner may allow a person, or the person’s representative, to observe the autopsy if the coroner considers—

(a)the person has a sufficient interest in the autopsy; and

(b)the attendance of the person, or the person’s representative, at the autopsy would not compromise the integrity of the coronial investigation or any other investigation into the death; and

Example of other investigation—

a criminal investigation, workplace health and safety investigation or disciplinary investigation

(c)the attendance of the person, or the person’s representative, at the autopsy is otherwise appropriate.

(4)Before allowing a person to observe an autopsy under subsection (3), the coroner—

(a)must, whenever practicable, consult with and consider the views of—

(i)a family member of the deceased person; and

(ii)the doctor who is to conduct the autopsy; and

(b)may consult with, and consider the views of, anyone else the coroner considers appropriate.

(5)If the coroner allows a person to observe an autopsy under subsection (3), the coroner must give the person notice of the time and place of the autopsy before it is conducted.

s 21 sub 2009 No. 32 s 19

22Extra medical evidence for autopsy

(1)If the coroner considers it necessary for the investigation of a death, the coroner may, by written notice, require—

(a)an attending doctor—

(i)to be present at the autopsy; or

(ii)to give the coroner a written report to help the doctor who is to conduct, or conducted, the autopsy; or

(b)a person who has any medical records of the deceased person, or tissue samples from the deceased person, to give them to the doctor who is to conduct, or conducted, the autopsy.

Example—

The coroner may require the person in charge of the nursing home in which the deceased person died to release the deceased person’s medical records.

(2)The coroner may send the notice to a person by fax or another electronic means.

(3)The person may send a written report or medical records to the doctor by fax or other electronic means, unless the notice requires the original copy of the written report or medical records to be given.

(4)The person to whom the notice is directed must comply with the notice, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

Example—

An attending doctor may refuse to give the coroner a written report if the information in the report would tend to incriminate the attending doctor.

(5)The doctor who conducts the autopsy must return the medical records or tissue samples as soon as reasonably practicable after the autopsy, unless the coroner orders otherwise.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

s 22 amd 2009 No. 32 s 20

23Autopsy testing

(1)A coroner may order that the doctor who has been ordered to conduct an autopsy also conduct a particular test.

(2)The coroner may make the order on an application under section 23A or on the coroner’s own initiative.

(3)Also, the doctor may conduct any test that is consistent with the type of autopsy ordered by the coroner if the doctor considers it necessary to investigate the death.

(4)For a test, the doctor may remove tissue from the deceased person’s body.

(5)Regardless of the type of autopsy ordered, the doctor may take blood or urine samples for testing.

(6)In this section—

conduct a test includes arrange for a test to be conducted.

coroner means the coroner who ordered the doctor to conduct an autopsy or another coroner.

s 23 amd 2009 No. 32 s 21; 2013 No. 35 s 36

23AApplying for an order for autopsy testing

(1)A person may apply to the coroner in writing for an order that the doctor who has been ordered to conduct an autopsy, or who conducted an autopsy, also conduct a test for any or all of the following as stated in the application—

(a)an infectious condition;

(b)a notifiable condition;

(c)an emergency notifiable condition;

(d)a controlled notifiable condition.

(2)The coroner may grant the application only if the coroner is satisfied the applicant has a sufficient interest in the test result.

(3)In this section—

conduct, a test, includes arrange for a test to be conducted.

controlled notifiable condition means a controlled notifiable condition as defined in the Public Health Act 2005, section 63.

coroner means the coroner who ordered the doctor to conduct an autopsy or the State Coroner.

emergency notifiable condition means an emergency notifiable condition as defined in the Public Health Act 2005, section 315.

notifiable condition means a notifiable condition as defined in the Public Health Act 2005, section 64.

s 23A ins 2009 No. 32 s 22

24Removing tissue for autopsy testing

(1)This section applies if during an autopsy of a body, the doctor conducting the autopsy removes tissue from the body for testing.

(2)If prescribed tissue is removed, the doctor must inform the coroner before the coroner orders the body’s release.

(3)The coroner, knowing that the tissue has been removed, may nevertheless order the release of the body.

(4)However, if prescribed tissue has been removed, the coroner must not order the release of the body unless satisfied that—

(a)if practicable, a family member of the deceased person has been informed of the removal of the prescribed tissue; and

(b)the retention of the prescribed tissue is necessary for the investigation of the death, despite any concerns raised with the coroner about the retention of the prescribed tissue.

(5)If the coroner is not satisfied as mentioned in subsection (4)(a) and (b), the coroner must order the doctor to return the prescribed tissue to the body before the body is released.

(6)If tissue kept for testing is prescribed tissue, the coroner must, at not more than 6-monthly intervals after the date of the order for the autopsy, decide whether the tissue—

(a)still needs to be kept for—

(i)the investigation of the death; or

(ii)proceedings for an offence relating to the death; or

(b)may be disposed of.

(7)Specimen tissue as defined under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979 must be kept indefinitely by the entity that turned the tissue into specimen tissue.

(8)A person must not dispose of any other tissue kept for testing, except under the order of a coroner.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(9)If a coroner orders the disposal of the tissue, the entity that has the tissue must—

(a)if a family member of the deceased person has told the coroner that he or she wishes to test, or use, the tissue for a lawful purpose or to bury the tissue—release the tissue to the family member, or the family member’s representative, for the test, use or burial; or

(b)otherwise—arrange for the tissue to be buried.

(10)Subject to any relevant local laws, a statement by the entity, in the approved form, to the effect that the coroner has ordered the disposal of the tissue is sufficient authority for the burial of the tissue.

(11)In this section—

coroner means—

(a)the coroner who ordered the autopsy; or

(b)if that coroner is not available, another coroner.

prescribed tissue means—

(a)a whole organ or fetus; or

(b)an identifiable body part.

Example for paragraph (b)—

a limb, digit or jaw

s 24 amd 2009 No. 32 s 23

24AAutopsy certificate

(1)This section applies to a doctor who conducts an autopsy.

(2)As soon as practicable after completing an autopsy, the doctor must—

(a)complete an autopsy notice in the form required by the registrar; and

(b)give a signed copy of the notice to—

(i)the registrar in an approved way; and

(ii)the coroner who ordered the conduct of the autopsy.

(3)As soon as practicable after the doctor determines the cause of death, or the doctor finally decides that the doctor can not determine the cause of death, the doctor must—

(a)complete an autopsy certificate in the form required by the registrar; and

(b)give a signed copy of the certificate to—

(i)the registrar in an approved way; and

(ii)the coroner who ordered the conduct of the autopsy.

Example—

After completing an autopsy, the doctor may decide that the doctor can not determine the cause of death until the doctor receives the results of toxicology tests. If the results of the toxicology tests are inconclusive, the doctor may finally decide that the doctor can not determine the cause of death.

(4)If, after completing an autopsy, the doctor determines the cause of death, or the doctor decides that the doctor can not determine the cause of death the doctor need not comply with subsection (2).

(5)However, if the doctor is unable to do something required by subsection (2) or (3), another appropriately qualified doctor can do the thing.

(6)In this section—

approved way, of giving a notice or certificate, means a way that is—

(a)approved by the registrar; and

(b)published on the department’s website or www.qld.gov.au .

autopsy includes a post-mortem examination under the Coroners Act 1958.

registrar means the registrar under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023.

s 24A ins 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

amd 2009 No. 32 s 24; 2023 No. 17 s 159

25Autopsy reports

(1)As soon as practicable after completing an autopsy, the doctor who conducted the autopsy must—

(a)prepare an autopsy report; and

(b)give the report to the coroner.

(2)If an investigating police officer asks for a copy of the autopsy report, or a copy of a test report, the doctor who conducted the autopsy or the person who did the test must give a copy of the report to the police officer.

(3)However, if the doctor is unable to do something required by subsection (1) or (2), another appropriately qualified doctor can do the thing.

(4)If the chief executive or health chief executive asks for a copy of an autopsy report, or a copy of a test report, the doctor who conducted the autopsy or the person who did the test, must give a copy of the report to—

(a)a public service employee nominated by the chief executive; or

(b)a public service employee, health service employee or health executive, nominated by the health chief executive.

(5)The chief executive or health chief executive may ask a doctor who conducts autopsies for—

(a)a copy of the autopsy report prepared by the doctor for a particular deceased person; or

(b)all autopsy reports prepared by the doctor for deceased persons who—

(i)died in similar circumstances; or

(ii)had similar characteristics; or

(iii)may be grouped by other criteria; or

Example—

The health chief executive could ask a doctor to give the health chief executive copies of all autopsy reports the doctor makes at any time relating to deaths of children under the age of 1.

(c)copies of all autopsy reports prepared by the doctor.

(6)However, subsections (4) and (5) do not apply if the State Coroner has given the chief executive or health chief executive written notice stating—

(a)that the reports mentioned in the subsections are not to be given to—

(i)the chief executive or the health chief executive; or

(ii)a public service employee, health service employee or health executive; and

(b)the reasons why the reports are not to be given.

(7)In this section—

health executive means a health executive under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

health service employee means a health service employee under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

investigating police officer means a police officer who is investigating the death under this or another Act.

test report means a document containing the results of a test performed for an autopsy.

s 25 amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2007 No. 54 s 38; 2009 No. 32 s 25; 2011 No. 32 s 332 sch 1 pt 2 (amd 2012 No. 9 s 47)

26Control of body

(1)Unless a person’s death is reported to the coroner after burial, the coroner starts having control of the deceased person’s body when the coroner starts investigating the deceased person’s death.

(2)The coroner stops having control of the body when the coroner—

(a)if the coroner stops investigating the death under section 12(2)(a)—orders the release of the body to the Minister responsible for administering the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003; or

(b)if the coroner stops investigating the death under section 12(2)(b)—authorises a doctor to issue a cause of death certificate for the deceased person; or

(c)if the coroner stops investigating the death under section 12(2)(c) or (d) or (4)—orders the release of the body for burial; or

(d)if the coroner stops investigating the death under section 12(2)(e)—orders the release of the body to the other jurisdiction; or

(e)transfers control of the body to another coroner; or

(f)decides that it is not necessary for the coroner’s investigation to keep the body after an autopsy and the coroner orders the release of the body for burial.

(3)For subsection (2)(f), the coroner must order the release of the body for burial as soon as reasonably practicable after the autopsy.

(4)However, the coroner must not order the release of a body for burial if it is not known whose body it is, unless the coroner believes it is necessary to bury the body in the particular circumstances.

(5)A doctor must not issue a cause of death certificate for a person if—

(a)the death appears to the doctor to be a reportable death, unless a coroner advises the doctor that the death is not a reportable death; or

(b)a coroner is investigating the death, unless the coroner authorises the issue of the certificate.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(6)For subsection (2)(a), (c), (d) and (f), a reference to the coroner, in relation to an order for the release of a body, includes, if the coroner investigating the death is not available, another coroner.

s 26 amd 2005 No. 70 s 48; 2009 No. 32 s 26; 2020 No. 15 s 32

pt 3 div 3 hdg sub 2013 No. 35 s 37

27When inquest must be held

(1)The coroner investigating a death must hold an inquest if—

(a)the coroner considers the death is—

(i)a death in custody; or

(ii)a death in care, in circumstances that raise issues about the deceased person’s care; or

(iii)a death mentioned in section 8(3)(h) that is not also a death in custody, unless the coroner is satisfied the circumstances of the death do not require the holding of an inquest; or

(b)the Attorney-General directs the State Coroner to arrange for an inquest to be held into the death; or

(c)the State Coroner, on the State Coroner’s own initiative or on an application under section 30, orders an inquest be held into the death; or

(d)the District Court, on an application under section 30, orders an inquest be held into the death.

(2)For subsection (1)(a)(i), a death in custody—

(a)includes a death that is also another type of reportable death under section 8; but

Example—

A death in custody may also be a death in care under section 8(3)(f) or a death in the course of police operations under section 8(3)(h).

(b)does not include the death of a person if, when the person died, the person was detained under the Public Health Act 2005.

(3)Subsection (1)(b) to (d) applies despite any decision of the coroner investigating the death not to hold an inquest.

s 27 amd 2009 No. 32 s 27

28When inquest may be held

(1)An inquest may be held into a reportable death if the coroner investigating the death is satisfied it is in the public interest to hold the inquest.

(2)In deciding whether it is in the public interest to hold an inquest, the coroner may consider—

(a)the extent to which drawing attention to the circumstances of the death may prevent deaths in similar circumstances happening in the future; and

(b)any guidelines issued by the State Coroner about the issues that may be relevant for deciding whether to hold an inquest for particular types of deaths.

s 28 amd 2009 No. 32 s 28

29When inquest must not be held or continued

(1)This section applies if a coroner who is investigating a death is informed that someone has been charged with an offence in which the question of whether the accused caused the death may be in issue.

(2)If the coroner is informed before an inquest is started, the coroner must not start an inquest until after the end of the proceedings for the offence, including any appeal started within the time allowed for an appeal.

(3)If the coroner is informed after the start of an inquest, the coroner—

(a)must adjourn the inquest; and

(b)may resume or close the inquest after the end of the proceedings for the offence, including any appeal started within the time allowed for an appeal.

30Applying for inquest to be held

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

(2)The application must—

(a)be written; and

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

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

(a)the applicant; and

(b)if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner.

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

(a)if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner; or

(b)if the coroner is the State Coroner—the District Court.

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

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

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

(8)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.

(9)In this section—

prescribed period, for the coroner to decide the application, means—

(a)6 months after the coroner receives the application; or

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

s 30 amd 2009 No. 32 s 29

31Inquests to be held by the Coroners Court

(1)An inquest must be held by the Coroners Court in open court, except when the coroner orders the court be closed while particular evidence is given.

(2)An inquest may be held on any day of the week.

32Notice of inquest

(1)The Coroners Court must publish, in a daily newspaper circulating generally in the State, a notice of—

(a)the matter to be investigated at the inquest; and

(b)the issues to be investigated at the inquest; and

(c)the date, time and place of the inquest set by the coroner.

(2)The notice must be published at least 28 days before the inquest is to be held.

(3)Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply—

(a)to an adjourned inquest; or

(b)if the State Coroner directs that a notice not be published; or

(c)if the Coroners Court has published a notice about a conference for the inquest under section 34(2).

(4)The Coroners Court must publish a statement of the issues to be investigated at the inquest and the date, time and place of the inquest on an appropriate website of the Office of the State Coroner.

Editor’s note—

At the commencement of this subsection, the website is <www.courts.qld.gov.au/129.htm>.

s 32 amd 2009 No. 32 s 30

33Inquest into multiple deaths

The State Coroner may investigate, or direct a coroner to investigate, at an inquest—

(a)a number of deaths that happened at different times and places, but which appear to have happened in similar circumstances; or

(b)a number of deaths that happened at the same time and place.

Example of paragraph (a)—

The State Coroner may direct a coroner to investigate several deaths that are suspected of being caused by an overdose of methadone.

34Pre-inquest conferences

(1)The Coroners Court investigating a death may hold a conference before holding an inquest—

(a)to decide—

(i)what issues are to be investigated at the inquest; or

(ii)who may appear at the inquest; or

(iii)which witnesses will be required at the inquest; or

(iv)what evidence will be required at the inquest; or

(b)to work out how long the inquest will take; or

(c)to hear any application under section 17; or

(d)to otherwise ensure the orderly conduct of the inquest.

(2)The Coroners Court may publish, in a daily newspaper circulating generally in the State, a notice of—

(a)the matter to be investigated at the inquest; and

(b)the proposed issues to be investigated at the inquest; and

(c)the date, time and place of the conference set by the coroner.

(3)If the Coroners Court decides to publish a notice as mentioned in subsection (2), the notice must be published at least 28 days before the conference is to be held.

(4)The Coroners Court may order a person concerned with the investigation to attend the conference.

s 34 amd 2009 No. 32 s 31

35Directions or orders about inquests and pre-inquest conferences

(1)To the extent that the conduct of an inquest or pre-inquest conference is not provided for by rules or practice directions, the Coroners Court may give the directions and make the orders the court considers appropriate for the conduct of the inquest or pre-inquest conference.

Example—

The Coroners Court may make an order to close the court while a witness is giving evidence that the witness claims would tend to incriminate the witness.

(2)Subsection (1) does not limit the power of the Coroners Court to control an inquest or pre-inquest conference.

(3)In this section—

pre-inquest conference means a conference mentioned in section 34.

s 35 amd 2009 No. 32 s 32

36Right to appear etc.

(1)The following persons may appear, examine witnesses, and make submissions, at an inquest—

(a)a police officer, lawyer or other person assisting the Coroners Court;

(b)the Attorney-General;

(c)a person who the Coroners Court considers has a sufficient interest in the inquest.

Examples for paragraph (c)—

1a family member

2the representative of a department

3the representative of a company that manufactured a product that is believed to have killed the deceased person

(2)Subsection (3) applies if the Coroners Court considers a person mentioned in subsection (1)(c) has a sufficient interest only because it is in the public interest, and consistent with the purposes of this Act, that the person appear and make submissions at the inquest about a matter on which the coroner may comment under section 46(1).

Example of a person for subsection (2)—

a specialist advocacy group with particular expertise in a matter on which a coroner may comment under section 46(1)

(3)Despite subsection (1), the person—

(a)may not examine witnesses at the inquest without the court’s leave; and

(b)may only make submissions about a matter on which the coroner may comment under section 46(1).

(4)The Attorney-General or a person who the Coroners Court considers has a sufficient interest may be represented by a lawyer.

(5)In this section—

examine includes cross-examine.

s 36 amd 2009 No. 32 s 33

37Evidence

(1)The Coroners Court is not bound by the rules of evidence, but may inform itself in any way it considers appropriate.

(2)The Coroners Court may require a person to produce a document to the court before the start of an inquest.

(3)The Coroners Court may inspect anything produced at an inquest, copy it, or keep it for a reasonable period.

(4)The Coroners Court may do any of the following—

(a)order a person to attend an inquest, until excused by the court—

(i)to give evidence as a witness; or

(ii)to produce something;

(b)order a person called as a witness at an inquest—

(i)to take an oath; or

(ii)to answer a question.

(5)In addition to the ways in which something may be served under the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 39, the Coroners Court may authorise service of an order in another way.

(6)A person must comply with an order of the Coroners Court, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.

(7)If a person fails to attend an inquest as ordered, the court may issue a warrant for the person’s arrest.

Note—

For particular police powers relating to the arrest of a person, see the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, sections 21 (General power to enter to arrest or detain someone or enforce warrant) and 615 (Power to use force against individuals) and, for what happens if the person can not be taken before the coroner on the day of the arrest, see section 395 (Duty of officer receiving custody of person arrested under warrant other than for offence).

(8)However, the court may issue the warrant only if satisfied the person was served in time for it to be practical, in normal circumstances, for the person to appear before the court.

(9)The police officer must, as soon as practicable after the arrest, cause the person to be brought before the Coroners Court.

(10)Once arrested, the person may be detained in custody until the Coroners Court excuses the person from attending the inquest.

(11)The issue of a warrant, or the arrest of the person, does not relieve the person from liability incurred by the person for not complying with the order to attend.

38Recording evidence

(1)The Coroners Court may decide whether or not proceedings in the court during a conference held under section 34 are to be recorded under the Recording of Evidence Act 1962.

(2)Despite any order made under section 41, any other proceedings in the court must be recorded under the Recording of Evidence Act 1962.

(3)Subject to an order made under section 41 and the requirements of the Recording of Evidence Act 1962, anyone is entitled to obtain a copy of the record under that Act.

39Incriminating evidence

(1)This section applies if a witness refuses to give oral evidence at an inquest because the evidence would tend to incriminate the person.

(2)The coroner may require the witness to give evidence that would tend to incriminate the witness if the coroner is satisfied that it is in the public interest for the witness to do so.

(3)The evidence is not admissible against the witness in any other proceeding, other than a proceeding for perjury.

(4)Derivative evidence is not admissible against the witness in a criminal proceeding.

(5)In this section—

derivative evidence means any information, document or other evidence obtained as a direct or indirect result of the evidence given by the witness.

proceeding for perjury means a criminal proceeding in which the false or misleading nature of the evidence is in question.

40Exhibits

(1)This section applies to exhibits at inquests.

(2)A registrar or deputy registrar must hold exhibits in safe custody.

(3)A coroner may make an order about the custody of an exhibit.

s 40 amd 2020 No. 15 s 33

41Prohibited publications relating to inquests and pre-inquest conferences

(1)A coroner, either before, during or immediately after the holding of an inquest or pre-inquest conference, may make an order prohibiting the publication of information relating to, or arising at, an inquest or pre-inquest conference.

Examples—

A coroner may prohibit the publication of information that—

(a)indicates a deceased person’s death was, or may possibly have been, self-inflicted; or

(b)would tend to incriminate the witness.

(2)A person must not contravene an order under subsection (1).

Maximum penalty—150 penalty units.

(3)A person must not publish, or allow someone else to publish—

(a)a question disallowed by the Coroners Court at an inquest or pre-inquest conference; or

(b)an answer given to a question disallowed by the Coroners Court at an inquest or pre-inquest conference.

Maximum penalty—150 penalty units.

(4)The coroner, by order, may prohibit a person—

(a)immediately before, during or immediately after the holding of an inquest or pre-inquest conference, from filming, photographing, sketching or recording anything—

(i)in the room or other place in which the inquest or pre-inquest conference is about to be, is being or has been held; or

(ii)in a room or other place set aside by a coroner for a purpose connected with the holding of the inquest or pre-inquest conference; or

(iii)in an entrance or passageway leading to or from a room or place mentioned in subparagraph (i) or (ii); or

(b)publishing a film, photograph, sketch or record taken contrary to an order made under paragraph (a).

(5)A person must comply with the order, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—150 penalty units.

(6)The Coroners Court may make an order prohibiting—

(a)the issue of the whole or part of a copy of the record made under the Recording of Evidence Act 1962; or

(b)the publication of the whole or part of a copy of the record made under that Act.

(7)A person must comply with the order, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—150 penalty units.

(8)In this section—

publish includes publish on radio, television or the internet.

record includes make an audio recording.

s 41 amd 2009 No. 32 s 34

42Contempt

The Magistrates Courts Act 1921, section 50 applies to the Coroners Court in the same way that it applies to a Magistrates Court, with all necessary changes.

43Excluding persons from inquest or pre-inquest conference

(1)The Coroners Court may order that a person be excluded from an inquest or pre-inquest conference if the court considers it is in the interests of justice, the public or a particular person to do so.

Examples—

1A person who commits an offence against section 41 may be excluded from an inquest or pre-inquest conference.

2A person may be excluded from an inquest or pre-inquest conference until the person or someone else has given evidence at the inquest or pre-inquest conference.

(2)If the person disobeys the order, the court may order the person be removed from the inquest or pre-inquest conference.

s 43 amd 2009 No. 32 s 35

44Adjourning inquest

The Coroners Court may adjourn an inquest to any time and place.

45Coroner’s findings

(1)A coroner who is investigating a suspected death must, if possible, find whether or not a death in fact happened.

(2)A coroner who is investigating a death or suspected death must, if possible, find—

(a)who the deceased person is; and

(b)how the person died; and

(c)when the person died; and

(d)where the person died, and in particular whether the person died in Queensland; and

(e)what caused the person to die.

(3)However, the coroner need not make the findings listed in subsection (2) if—

(a)the coroner is unable to find that a suspected death in fact happened; or

(b)the coroner stops investigating the death under section 12(2).

(4)The coroner must give a written copy of the findings 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)if an inquest was held—any person who, as a person with a sufficient interest in the inquest, appeared at the inquest; and

(c)if the deceased person was a child—

(i)the family and child commissioner; and

(ii)the chief executive (child safety); and

(d)if the coroner is not the State Coroner—the State Coroner.

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

(a)guilty of an offence; or

(b)civilly liable for something.

(6)This section applies whether or not an inquest is held.

s 45 amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2004 No. 13 s 91; 2009 No. 32 s 36; 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

46Coroner’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.

s 46 amd 2004 No. 13 s 92; 2009 No. 32 s 37; 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

46APublication of coroner’s findings or comments

(1)If a coroner investigates a death at an inquest, the coroner must publish the following on the State Coroner’s website unless the coroner orders otherwise—

(a)the coroner’s findings;

(b)if the coroner comments under section 46 on anything connected with the death—the coroner’s comments.

(2)If a coroner investigated a death but did not hold an inquest, the coroner may direct that the coroner’s findings be published on the State Coroner’s website only if—

(a)the coroner considers the publication is in the public interest; and

(b)to the extent practicable, the coroner has consulted with and had regard to the views of a family member of the deceased person.

Editor’s note—

The State Coroner’s website is http://www.courts.qld. gov.au/courts/coroners-court/.

s 46A ins 2013 No. 35 s 38

47Coroner’s comments and findings for particular deaths

(1)This section applies to the findings, and any comments, of a coroner made in relation to the investigation of a death in care, death in custody or death that happened in the course of or as a result of police operations.

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

(a)the Attorney-General; and

(b)the appropriate chief executive; and

(c)the appropriate Minister.

(3)In this section—

appropriate chief executive means the chief executive of the department in which the relevant Act is administered.

appropriate Minister means the Minister administering the relevant Act.

relevant Act means—

(a)for a death in care—

(i)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(a)(i)—the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002; or

(ii)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(a)(ii)—the Disability Services Act 2006; or

(iii)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(a)(iii)—the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011; or

(iiia)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(aa)—the Forensic Disability Act 2011; or

(iv)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(b)—the Mental Health Act 2016; or

(v)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(c)—the Adoption Act 2009; or

(vi)for the death of a person mentioned in section 9(1)(d)—the Child Protection Act 1999; or

(b)for a death in custody—

(i)for the death of a person in the custody of a police officer or in a watch-house—the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000; or

(ii)for the death of a person detained under the Corrective Services Act 2006—that Act; or

(iii)for the death of a person in the custody of the Crime and Corruption Commission—the Crime and Corruption Act 2001; or

(iv)for the death of a person in the custody of any other law enforcement agency—the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000; or

(v)for the death of a person in the custody of the proper officer of a court—the Justices Act 1886; or

(vi)for the death of a person in custody under the Youth Justice Act 1992—that Act; or

(c)for a death that happened in the course of or as a result of police operations—the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.

s 47 amd 2004 No. 13 s 93; 2005 No. 40 s 69 sch; 2006 No. 12 s 241 sch 1; 2006 No. 29 s 518 sch 3; 2009 No. 32 s 38; 2009 No. 29 s 368 sch 2; 2009 No. 34 s 45 (1) sch pt 1 amdt 10; 2011 No. 13 s 168; 2011 No. 32 s 332 sch 1 pt 2 (amd 2012 No. 9 s 47); 2014 No. 21 s 94 (2) sch 2; 2016 No. 5 s 923 sch 4

48Reporting offences, corrupt conduct or police misconduct

(1)A reference in this section to information does not include information obtained under section 39(2).

(2)If, from information obtained while investigating a death, a coroner reasonably suspects a person has committed an offence, the coroner must give the information to—

(a)for an indictable offence—the director of public prosecutions; or

(b)for any other offence—the chief executive of the department in which the legislation creating the offence is administered.

(3)A coroner may give information about corrupt conduct or police misconduct under the Crime and Corruption Act 2001 to the Crime and Corruption Commission.

(4)A coroner may give information about a person’s conduct in a profession or trade, obtained while investigating a death, to a disciplinary body for the person’s profession or trade if the coroner reasonably believes the information might cause the body to inquire into, or take steps in relation to, the conduct.

(5)In this section—

disciplinary body for a person’s profession or trade means a body that—

(a)licenses, registers or otherwise approves the carrying on of the profession or trade; or

(b)can sanction, or recommend sanctions for, the person’s conduct in the profession or trade.

s 48 amd 2014 No. 21 s 94 (2) sch 2

49Reporting to State Coroner

At the request of the State Coroner, a coroner must give the State Coroner information about an investigation into a death that the coroner conducted or is conducting.

50Reopening inquests etc.—on application

(1)A person dissatisfied with a finding at an inquest may apply to the State Coroner or District Court to set aside the finding.

(2)The person may apply to the District Court even if, on an application based on the same or substantially the same grounds or evidence, the State Coroner has refused to set aside the finding.

(3)However, the person may not apply to the State Coroner if, on an application based on the same or substantially the same grounds or evidence, the District Court has refused to set aside the finding.

(4)The State Coroner may set aside a finding if satisfied—

(a)new evidence casts doubt on the finding; or

(b)the finding was not correctly recorded.

(5)The District Court may set aside a finding if satisfied—

(a)new evidence casts doubt on the finding; or

(b)the finding was not correctly recorded; or

(c)there was no evidence to support the finding; or

(d)the finding could not be reasonably supported by the evidence.

(6)If the State Coroner sets aside a finding—

(a)the State Coroner may—

(i)reopen the inquest to re-examine the finding; or

(ii)hold a new inquest; or

(b)the State Coroner may direct another coroner to—

(i)reopen the inquest to re-examine the finding; or

(ii)hold a new inquest.

(7)If the District Court sets aside a finding, the District Court may order—

(a)the State Coroner to—

(i)reopen the inquest to re-examine the finding; or

(ii)hold a new inquest; or

(b)the State Coroner to direct another coroner to—

(i)reopen the inquest to re-examine the finding; or

(ii)hold a new inquest.

(8)A coroner who has reopened an inquest, or is holding a new inquest, under this section may accept any of the evidence given, or findings made, at the earlier inquest as being correct.

s 50 amd 2009 No. 32 s 39

50AReopening inquests on coroner’s initiative

(1)The coroner who held an inquest, or the State Coroner, may on his or her own initiative, reopen the inquest to re-examine a finding, or hold a new inquest, if satisfied—

(a)new evidence casts doubt on the finding; or

(b)it is otherwise in the public interest.

(2)A coroner who has reopened an inquest, or is holding a new inquest, under this section may accept any of the evidence given, or findings made, at the earlier inquest as being correct.

s 50A ins 2009 No. 32 s 40

50BReopening investigations, other than inquests

(1)The State Coroner may, on his or her own initiative—

(a)reopen an investigation into a death; or

(b)direct the coroner who conducted an investigation into a death, or another coroner, to reopen the investigation.

(2)The State Coroner may take the action mentioned in subsection (1) if the State Coroner considers—

(a)the circumstances of the death warrant further investigation; or

(b)the coroner’s findings could not be reasonably supported by the evidence; or

(c)new evidence casts doubt on the findings.

(3)The coroner who conducted an investigation into a death may, on his or her own initiative, reopen the investigation.

(4)The coroner may take the action mentioned in subsection (3) if the coroner considers—

(a)the circumstances of the death warrant further investigation; or

(b)new evidence casts doubt on the findings.

(5)The State Coroner, or another coroner, who has reopened an investigation under this section may accept any of the evidence given at the earlier investigation as being correct.

(6)In this section—

investigation does not include an inquest.

s 50B ins 2009 No. 32 s 40

51Record of coroner’s findings and comments

(1)A coroner must keep a record of the coroner’s findings and comments.

(2)The record of the coroner’s findings and comments is not evidence in any court or tribunal of any fact asserted in the record.

(3)If a coroner becomes aware of a clerical mistake or omission in the record, the coroner must correct it.

51AAccess of investigation documents under this division

This division provides for when a person may or may not have access to an investigation document.

Note—

An owner of an investigation document may also access the document under section 62.

s 51A ins 2013 No. 35 s 39

52Documents that can not be accessed

(1)A coroner must not give a person access to an investigation document to the extent that the document—

(a)is subject to legal professional privilege; or

(b)contains information that is likely to—

(i)prevent a person from receiving a fair trial; or

(ii)prejudice the investigation of a contravention or possible contravention of the law; or

(iii)enable the existence or identity of a confidential source of information, in relation to the enforcement or administration of the law, to be ascertained; or

(iv)endanger a person’s life or physical safety; or

(v)prejudice the effectiveness of a lawful method or procedure for preventing, detecting, investigating or dealing with a contravention or possible contravention of the law; or

(vi)prejudice the maintenance or enforcement of a lawful method or procedure for protecting public safety; or

(vii)facilitate a person’s escape from lawful custody; or

(c)contains information about a living or dead person’s personal affairs, including, for example, information about the person’s health, unless—

(i)the information is the result of a test ordered to be done by the coroner on application under section 23A and the person wanting access is the applicant for the order; or

(ii)the information is relevant to a matter mentioned in section 45(2), whether or not the coroner has made the findings mentioned in that subsection; or

(d)contains information that was obtained from a person under a requirement in another Act that compelled the person to give the information; or

(e)contains information that was given to the coroner—

(i)under the Rail Safety National Law (Queensland), section 131 or 244(3) or (4); or

(ia)under the repealed Transport (Rail Safety) Act 2010, section 238, as in force at any time before its repeal; or

(ii)under the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, section 239AC, as in force before its repeal.

(2)Sections 53 and 54 are subject to this section.

s 52 amd 2004 No. 54 s 12; 2009 No. 32 s 41; 2010 No. 6 s 357 sch 1; 2017 No. 4 s 145 sch 1

53Access to investigation documents for research purposes

(1)This section applies if a person wants access to an investigation document, that is in the possession of a coroner, for research purposes.

(2)The State Coroner must not give the person access to—

(a)an investigation document, while a coroner is investigating the death to which the document relates, unless the State Coroner considers it appropriate having regard to—

(i)the importance of the research; and

(ii)the public interest in allowing the access before the investigation has finished; or

(b)a document to the extent that it contains information obtained under any of the following provisions—

(i)section 17;

(ii)the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159P;

(iii)the Public Health Act 2005, section 56 or 86.

(3)The person may access an investigation document, other than a document mentioned in subsection (2)(b), only with the consent of the State Coroner.

(4)The State Coroner may consent only if—

(a)the State Coroner is satisfied that the person is a genuine researcher; and

(b)the State Coroner is satisfied that the document is reasonably necessary for the research; and

(c)for a police document in relation to which the State Coroner decides not to obliterate information that identifies someone—the commissioner of the police service agrees to the person having access to the document; and

(d)for an investigation document that is not a coronial document or document mentioned in paragraph (c)—the chief executive officer of the entity that prepared the document agrees to the person having access to the document.

(5)The State Coroner’s consent allows the person to access 1 or more stated types of investigation documents—

(a)for the period stated in the consent; or

(b)until the State Coroner withdraws the consent;

whichever happens first.

(6)Before giving someone access to an investigation document for research purposes, the State Coroner must ensure that any information in the document that identifies anyone is obliterated.

(7)However, the State Coroner need not obliterate the information if the State Coroner reasonably believes—

(a)the person’s identity is necessary for the research to be effective; and

(b)the opportunity for increased knowledge that may result from the research outweighs the need to protect the privacy of any living or dead person.

(8)This section is subject to section 56.

(9)In this section—

genuine researcher means—

(a)a person for whom an application for health information has been granted under the Public Health Act 2005, chapter 6, part 4; or

(b)a person who is a member of a quality assurance committee established under the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, section 82; or

(c)another person who is conducting genuine research.

s 53 amd 2004 No. 36 s 58; 2005 No. 48 s 492 sch 1; 2009 No. 32 s 42; 2011 No. 32 s 332 sch 1 pt 2 (amd 2012 No. 9 s 47)

54Access to investigation documents for other purposes

(1)This section applies if a person wants access to 1 of the following documents, that is in the possession of a coroner, for purposes other than research purposes—

(a)a coronial document;

(b)another type of investigation document.

(2)The person may access the document with the consent of—

(a)the coroner who is conducting, or had conducted, the investigation to which the document relates; or

(b)if that coroner is not available and has not delegated his or her power to a registrar under section 86(4)(c)—another coroner nominated by the State Coroner; or

(c)otherwise—another coroner nominated by the State Coroner.

(3)The coroner may consent only if—

(a)the coroner is satisfied the person has a sufficient interest in the document; or

Example—

A person with a sufficient interest in an investigation document might include—

(a)an immediate member of the deceased person’s family; or

(b)for a document that is relevant to assessing a potential threat to public health, the health chief executive.

(b)the coroner—

(i)considers the access is in the public interest; and

(ii)to the extent practicable, has consulted with and had regard to the views of a family member of the deceased person.

(4)While a coroner is investigating a death to which a coronial document relates, a person may access the document only under this section.

(5)Despite subsection (2), if access to a coronial document is necessary for the investigation or prosecution of an offence relating to a death—

(a)a police officer may access the document without a coroner’s consent; and

(b)the police officer may give someone else access to the document for the investigation or prosecution, without a coroner’s consent.

(6)However, subsection (5) does not apply to a document to the extent that the document contains information that was obtained from a person under a provision of another Act that compelled the person to give the information.

Example of a provision of another Act in subsection (6)—

the Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, section 159 (Person must answer question about serious accident or high potential incident)

(7)Despite anything in this section—

(a)a document, to the extent that it contains confidential information obtained under section 17, may only be accessed under section 17(4); and

(b)a document, to the extent that it contains confidential information obtained under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159P, may only be accessed under section 159P(3) of that Act; and

(c)a document, to the extent that it contains confidential information obtained under the Public Health Act 2005, section 56, may only be accessed under section 56(3) of that Act; and

(d)a document, to the extent that it contains confidential information obtained under the Public Health Act 2005, section 86, may only be accessed under section 86(3) of that Act.

s 54 amd 2004 No. 36 s 59; 2005 No. 48 s 492 sch 1; 2009 No. 32 s 43; 2013 No. 35 s 40; 2020 No. 15 s 34

54AAAccess to information in section 7(4) report by prescribed tissue banks

(1)The State Coroner may enter into an arrangement with a person who owns a prescribed tissue bank about giving the prescribed tissue bank, or a person acting for the prescribed tissue bank, access to documents that are section 7(4) reports for the purpose of ascertaining the following information about a deceased person from the documents—

(a)the deceased person’s name;

(b)the deceased person’s age;

(c)a brief description of the circumstances of the deceased person’s death;

(d)the deceased person’s previous medical information;

Examples for paragraph (d)—

•details of the deceased person’s recent hospitalisation

•the name and contact details of a doctor the deceased person consulted

•the deceased person’s medical history

(e)the name of the deceased person’s senior available next of kin;

(f)an address, telephone number or other contact details of the deceased person’s senior available next of kin.

(2)Without limiting what may be included in an arrangement, the arrangement may provide for how and where the prescribed tissue bank or person may access the documents.

(3)The State Coroner may provide access to a document to the prescribed tissue bank or person under the arrangement.

(4)Sections 52(1)(c), 53, 54 and 55 do not apply in relation to access to a document under the arrangement.

(5)However, access to a document under the arrangement is otherwise subject to this division.

(6)A fee prescribed under a regulation for access to an investigation document does not apply to a document accessed under this section.

(7)A person who has been given access to a document under this section must not directly or indirectly disclose information in the document.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(8)A person does not contravene subsection (7) if the disclosure—

(a)is made in the performance of a function under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, including as a person acting for a prescribed tissue bank under the arrangement; or

(b)is permitted or required under this or another Act.

(9)In this section—

access a document does not include obtain a copy of the document.

s 54AA ins 2009 No. 32 s 44

54AAccess to investigation documents by the family and child commissioner

(1)The chief executive may enter into an arrangement with the family and child commissioner about giving the commissioner access to the following documents for the commissioner’s child death research functions—

(a)an investigation document, other than a report mentioned in section 7(4), that relates to the death of a particular child;

(b)all investigation documents, other than reports mentioned in section 7(4), that relate to the deaths of children.

(2)Without limiting what may be included in an arrangement, the arrangement may provide for the following—

(a)when investigation documents may be accessed by the family and child commissioner, including, for example, whether access will be given to the family and child commissioner while a coroner is investigating the death to which the document relates;

(b)how and where the family and child commissioner may access the investigation documents.

(3)The State Coroner may provide access to an investigation document to the family and child commissioner under the arrangement.

(4)Sections 53, 54 and 55 do not apply in relation to access to an investigation document under the arrangement.

(5)However, access to an investigation document under the arrangement is subject to the other provisions of this division.

(6)In this section—

investigation document includes a document obtained under the Coroners Act 1958 that is similar in nature to an investigation document as defined in schedule 2.

s 54A ins 2004 No. 13 s 94

amd 2009 No. 32 s 45; 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

54BLimitations on access under s 54A

(1)This section contains particular provisions limiting access to investigation documents under an arrangement under section 54A.

(2)Before giving the family and child commissioner access to an investigation document, the State Coroner must ensure that all information in the document that identifies anyone is obliterated.

(3)However, the State Coroner need not obliterate information if the State Coroner reasonably believes the person’s identity is necessary for the family and child commissioner’s child death research functions.

(4)If the investigation document is a police document and the State Coroner decides under subsection (3) not to obliterate information that identifies someone, the State Coroner may give access to the document only if the commissioner of the police service agrees to the document being accessed under the arrangement.

(5)If the investigation document is not a coronial document for an investigation under this Act or a police document, the State Coroner may give access to the document only if the chief executive of the entity that prepared the document agrees to the document being accessed under the arrangement.

(6)In this section—

investigation document includes a document obtained under the Coroners Act 1958 that is similar in nature to an investigation document as defined in schedule 2.

s 54B ins 2004 No. 13 s 94

amd 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

54CFees for access under s 54A

(1)The chief executive may charge the family and child commissioner a fee for access to investigation documents provided under section 54A that is not more than the actual cost of providing the access.

(2)A fee prescribed under a regulation for access to an investigation document does not apply to access to an investigation document provided under section 54A.

(3)In this section—

investigation document includes a document obtained under the Coroners Act 1958 that is similar in nature to an investigation document as defined in schedule 2.

s 54C ins 2004 No. 13 s 94

amd 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

55Conditions imposed on access

(1)When consenting to give a person access to an investigation document, a coroner may impose conditions on the consent that the coroner considers are necessary to protect the interests of justice, the public or a particular person.

Example—

A coroner may give consent on the condition that the document not be used for any purpose other than the inquest.

(2)A person given access to an investigation document subject to a conditional consent must comply with the conditions, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty for subsection (2)—100 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment.

56Refusing access in the public interest

(1)A coroner may refuse to allow a person access to an investigation document if the coroner considers that disclosure of the information in the document would not be in the public interest when weighed against all relevant interests.

Example—

A coroner may refuse access to a document if the coroner considers the document contains—

(a)defamatory information; or

(b)unsubstantiated allegations of criminal conduct; or

(c)information that may prejudice the coroner’s investigation.

(2)Subsection (1) applies even if the person is otherwise eligible, under this division, to be given access to the document.

(3)Also, a coroner may refuse to give access to a coronial document until a stated time.

Example—

If a document contains information that is likely to prevent a person from receiving a fair trial, a coroner may refuse to give access to the document until the trial is over.

(4)A person may apply to a coroner who refused access to an investigation document under this section to amend or revoke the order containing the refusal.

Example—

A person who wants to produce the document in evidence in another proceeding might apply to the coroner to allow a copy of the document to be given to the judge in that proceeding.

s 56 amd 2009 No. 32 s 46

57Coroner to pass on refused request for investigation document

(1)This section applies to an investigation document that is not a coronial document.

(2)If a coroner is prevented, under section 52, from giving a person access to the document, the coroner must—

(a)advise the entity that prepared the document, in writing—

(i)that the person has requested access to the document; and

(ii)of any concerns that the coroner has about how the coroner’s investigation may be affected if the document were released to the person; and

(b)advise the person, in writing, that the coroner has forwarded the person’s request to the entity.

58Identifying coronial documents

(1)This section applies if an entity gives a coroner an investigation document.

(2)The entity must inform the coroner whether or not the document was specifically prepared in connection with the investigation.

59What division applies to

(1)This division relates to physical evidence for a coroner’s investigation of a death.

(2)However, this division does not apply to an investigation document, other than an investigation document that was seized by a police officer for the investigation.

Note—

Investigation documents are dealt with under division 4.

(3)In this section—

physical evidence for an investigation, means—

(a)anything seized by a police officer for the investigation; or

(b)any exhibits that were tendered at an inquest held by the coroner; or

(c)any other property that came into the possession of a coroner, police officer, registrar or deputy registrar for the investigation.

60Returning physical evidence

(1)The coroner must order the physical evidence be returned to its owner as soon as the coroner decides that the evidence is no longer required for—

(a)the investigation; or

(b)the investigation of another death under this Act; or

(c)a proceeding for an offence relating to the death.

(2)However, the coroner must not order the return of physical evidence to its owner if—

(a)it is not lawful for the owner to possess the physical evidence; or

(b)under the guidelines issued by the State Coroner, it is not desirable that the physical evidence be returned to its owner because of its nature, condition and value.

Example of physical evidence for paragraph (b)—

a cracked safety helmet that a deceased person was wearing when killed

(3)In this section—

owner means—

(a)the person who appears to the coroner to be the lawful owner of the physical evidence; or

(b)for something that was owned by a person who has died—the deceased person’s personal representative.

s 60 amd 2009 No. 32 s 47

61Forfeiting physical evidence to the State

(1)The physical evidence becomes State property if the coroner—

(a)can not, after making reasonable efforts, return the physical evidence to its owner; or

Example of paragraph (a)—

The coroner may not be able to return physical evidence to its owner because the owner has moved overseas and, despite reasonable efforts, can not be located by the coroner.

(b)does not order the return of physical evidence to its owner because—

(i)it is not lawful for the owner to possess the physical evidence; or

(ii)given the nature, condition and value of the physical evidence, it is not desirable that the physical evidence be returned to its owner.

Example of physical evidence mentioned in paragraph (b)(ii)—

a cracked safety helmet that a deceased person was wearing when killed

(2)In deciding what efforts are reasonable, the coroner must have regard to the nature, condition and value of the physical evidence.

(3)Once the physical evidence becomes State property, the coroner may arrange for the physical evidence to be dealt with in any way allowed under the guidelines issued by the State Coroner.

Example—

The coroner may arrange for the physical evidence to be destroyed.

(4)Subsection (3) does not apply to physical evidence that is in the possession of the police service.

Note—

For physical evidence that is in the possession of the police service, see the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000, section 721 (Dealing with forfeited things).

62Access to physical evidence by owner

Until the physical evidence is returned or becomes State property, the coroner must allow its owner to inspect it and, if it is a document, to copy it, unless it is impracticable or would be unreasonable to allow the inspection or copying.

s 62 amd 2013 No. 35 s 41

62AAccess to physical evidence exhibit

(1)This section applies if a person, other than the owner of physical evidence, wants to access a physical evidence exhibit.

(2)The person may access the physical evidence exhibit only if—

(a)the coroner has given consent for the access; or

(b)access to the physical evidence exhibit is necessary for the investigation or prosecution of an offence relating to a death and the person is—

(i)a police officer; or

(ii)someone else authorised by a police officer to access the exhibit for the investigation or prosecution.

(3)The coroner may consent to a person having access to a physical evidence exhibit only if—

(a)the coroner is satisfied the person has a sufficient interest in the physical evidence exhibit; or

Example—

A person with a sufficient interest in a physical evidence exhibit might include a person at an inquest who wants to access a physical evidence exhibit to conduct a test on the exhibit.

(b)the coroner—

(i)considers the access is in the public interest; and

(ii)to the extent practicable, has consulted with and had regard to the views of a family member of the deceased person.

(4)In this section—

physical evidence exhibit means an exhibit, other than an investigation document, that was tendered at an inquest held by a coroner.

s 62A ins 2013 No. 35 s 42

pt 3 div 6 hdg sub 2009 No. 32 s 48

63Transferring investigation to another coroner

(1)This section is about the State Coroner reassigning the investigation of a death from 1 coroner (the original coroner) to the State Coroner or another coroner (the new coroner).

(2)The State Coroner may reassign an investigation that has not gone to an inquest if the State Coroner considers it necessary for the efficient operation of the coronial system.

(3)Also, the State Coroner may reassign an investigation, whether or not it has not gone to an inquest, if the original coroner—

(a)stops being a coroner; or

(b)is not available to finish the investigation, because of absence or another reason.

(4)If the original coroner had started but not finished an inquest into the death, the new coroner may—

(a)continue the inquest; or

(b)rehear part of the evidence heard by the original coroner; or

(c)hold a new inquest.

(5)For the investigation, the new coroner may—

(a)consider any evidence that was before the original coroner; and

(b)do anything the original coroner could do.

63AContinuation of jurisdiction on retirement etc.

(1)This section applies if—

(a)a person stops being a coroner for any reason, other than death or removal from office; and

(b)the person has not made all the findings of an investigation into a death conducted by the person before the person stopped being a coroner (the existing investigation).

(2)If the person agrees, the person is taken to continue to be a coroner for the existing investigation so far as it is necessary to make findings for matters the State Coroner, in consultation with the Chief Magistrate, decides are matters for which the coroner should make findings.

s 63A ins 2009 No. 32 s 49

64The Coroners Court

(1)The Coroners Court is established as a court of record.

(2)The Coroners Court is constituted by a coroner.

65Jurisdiction of the court is exclusive

Only the Coroners Court may hold an inquest.

66Where the court may be held

(1)The Coroners Court—

(a)may be held at any place; or

(b)may be held in more than 1 place at the same time.

(2)The Coroners Court held at a place may be referred to as the Coroners Court at the place.

Example—

The Coroners Court held at Toowoomba may be referred to as the Coroners Court at Toowoomba.

67Seals of the court

(1)The Coroners Court must have a seal for the court.

(2)The seal must be kept under the State Coroner’s direction.

(3)The seal must be judicially noticed.

68Rule-making power

The Governor in Council may make rules for the practice and procedures of the Coroners Court, including, for example, the practice and procedures at conferences held under section 34.

69Practice directions

(1)To the extent that a matter about the procedures of the Coroners Court is not provided for by this Act or the rules, the State Coroner may issue practice directions for the court about the court’s general procedures.

Example—

The State Coroner may issue a practice direction about the procedures at conferences held under section 34.

(2)Subsection (1) does not limit any inherent or other power of a coroner to make practice directions for a particular inquest.

70Appointment of State Coroner

(1)The Governor in Council may appoint a magistrate, other than an acting magistrate, as the State Coroner.

(2)The appointment as the State Coroner is for the term stated in the instrument of appointment.

(3)The stated term must not be longer than 5 years.

(4)A magistrate may be reappointed as the State Coroner.

(5)The State Coroner is entitled to the same salary, allowances and employment conditions as the Deputy Chief Magistrate.

s 70 amd 2023 No. 1 s 4

71Functions and powers of State Coroner

(1)The State Coroner’s functions are—

(a)to oversee and coordinate the coronial system; and

(b)to ensure the coronial system is administered and operated efficiently; and

(c)to ensure deaths reported to coroners that are reportable deaths are investigated to an appropriate extent; and

(d)to ensure an inquest is held if—

(i)the inquest is required to be held under this Act; or

(ii)it is in the public interest for the inquest to be held; and

(e)to be responsible, together with the Deputy State Coroner, for all investigations into deaths in custody; and

(f)to issue directions and guidelines about the investigation of deaths and for other matters under this Act; and

(g)to promote public awareness of the coronial system; and

(h)any other function given to the State Coroner or a coroner under this or another Act.

(2)The State Coroner has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for, or in connection with, the performance of the State Coroner’s functions.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), the State Coroner may enter into an arrangement with a government entity to facilitate the entity’s relationship with the coronial system.

Example—

a memorandum of understanding between the State Coroner and a government entity with functions including the investigation of deaths

(4)While a magistrate holds appointment as the State Coroner, the only functions and powers that the magistrate has are the functions and powers of the State Coroner.

(5)The State Coroner must devote the whole of his or her time to the duties of the State Coroner.

(6)Without limiting subsection (5), the State Coroner must not practise as a barrister or solicitor for fee or reward.

(7)Despite subsections (4) and (5), the State Coroner—

(a)may be appointed to act as, and perform the functions and exercise the powers of, the Deputy Chief Magistrate; and

(c)may be appointed to, and perform the functions and exercise the powers of, another office if—

(i)holding the office, performing the functions and exercising the powers are compatible with the office of State Coroner; and

(ii)the Attorney-General, after consulting with the Chief Magistrate, approves of the State Coroner holding the office, performing the functions and exercising the powers.

Example of another office—

appointed member of the Police Education Advisory Committee

(8)The State Coroner must immediately stop holding an office, performing a function or exercising a power mentioned in subsection (7)(c) if required to do so by the Attorney-General.

(9)The Magistrates Act 1991, section 41 does not apply in relation to the State Coroner.

(10)However, if the State Coroner is acting as Deputy Chief Magistrate, the Magistrates Act 1991, section 41(1) applies to the extent it requires an acting Deputy Chief Magistrate to comply with every reasonable direction given to, or requirement made by, the Chief Magistrate.

(11)To remove any doubt, it is declared that the Magistrates Act 1991, section 14(b) applies to the State Coroner while acting as Deputy Chief Magistrate.

(12)The State Coroner may not perform the functions, or exercise the powers, of the State Coroner while the State Coroner acts as Deputy Chief Magistrate or, under the Magistrates Act 1991, section 14(b), as Chief Magistrate.

(13)In this section—

government entity means a government entity as defined in the Public Sector Act 2022, section 276.

s 71 amd 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1; 2004 No. 13 s 95; 2009 No. 32 s 50; 2014 No. 28 s 105 sch 1; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

71AAssistance to and from coroners in other jurisdictions

(1)The State Coroner may request in writing the person holding a corresponding office in another State to provide assistance in connection with the exercise by the State Coroner or another coroner of any power under this Act.

(2)The State Coroner, at the written request of the person holding a corresponding office in another State, may provide assistance to that person or a coroner of that State in connection with the exercise of a power under the law of that State.

(3)If the Attorney-General so directs, the State Coroner must provide assistance in response to a request of a kind referred to in subsection (2).

(4)For the purpose of providing assistance, the State Coroner or another coroner may exercise any of his or her powers under this Act irrespective of whether he or she would, apart from this section, have authority to exercise that power.

Note—

The State Coroner has, in addition to all the powers of a coroner, a general function of overseeing and coordinating coronial services and ensuring that inquests and other investigations are held. The assistance provided may involve the exercise of administrative powers by the State Coroner or the exercise by him or her or another coroner of coronial powers.

(5)For this section, this Act applies as if the matter that is the subject of the request or direction were the subject of an investigation under this Act.

(6)In this section—

corresponding office means an office that corresponds to the officer of the State Coroner.

s 71A ins 2009 No. 32 s 51

72Resignation of State Coroner

(1)The person appointed as State Coroner may, by written notice to the Minister, resign as State Coroner.

(2)However, on resigning as State Coroner, the person does not stop being a magistrate.

73When person stops being the State Coroner

(1)A person stops being the State Coroner—

(a)while the person is suspended as a magistrate; or

(b)if the person stops being a magistrate.

(2)For a magistrate who is the State Coroner, the duties mentioned in the Magistrates Act 1991, section 43(4) include the duties of the State Coroner.

s 73 amd 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

74Acting as State Coroner

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the State Coroner’s position is vacant; or

(b)the State Coroner is not available to perform the State Coroner’s functions because of absence or another reason.

(2)The Governor in Council may appoint a magistrate to act as the State Coroner.

(3)The instrument of appointment must state the period of the appointment.

(4)The period of the appointment must not be longer than 6 months.

(5)However, the appointment may be renewed at any time.

(6)Despite subsection (2), the Deputy State Coroner may act as the State Coroner whenever—

(a)no-one holds a current appointment from the Governor in Council to act as the State Coroner; or

(b)someone holds a current appointment from the Governor in Council to act as the State Coroner, but is not available to perform the State Coroner’s functions because of absence or another reason.

(7)In this section—

Deputy State Coroner does not include a person who is acting as the Deputy State Coroner.

magistrate does not include a person who is acting as a magistrate.

s 74 amd 2009 No. 32 s 52

75Staff of the State Coroner

The staff who are necessary to enable the State Coroner to perform his or her functions are to be appointed under the Public Sector Act 2022.

s 75 amd 2009 No. 25 s 83 sch; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

76Consulting with Chief Magistrate

The State Coroner must consult with the Chief Magistrate about—

(a)the resources necessary to ensure the efficient administration of the coronial system; and

(b)the amount of work conducted by magistrates as coroners; and

(c)any guidelines or practice directions the State Coroner wishes to issue.

77Annual report

(1)As soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, the State Coroner must give the Attorney-General a report for the year on the operation of this Act.

(2)The report must also contain—

(a)the State Coroner’s guidelines that were operative in the year; and

(b)a summary of the investigation, including the inquest, into each death in custody; and

(c)a summary of the types of directions that the State Coroner has given to coroners under section 14; and

(d)the names of the persons given access to investigation documents as genuine researchers under section 53.

(3)The report may also contain a summary of any other investigation that the State Coroner considers should be brought to the Minister’s attention.

(4)The Attorney-General must table a copy of the report in the Legislative Assembly within 14 sitting days after receiving the report.

s 77 amd 2009 No. 32 s 53

78Appointment of Deputy State Coroner

(1)The Governor in Council may appoint a magistrate as the Deputy State Coroner.

(2)The appointment as the Deputy State Coroner is for the term stated in the instrument of appointment.

(3)The stated term must not be longer than 5 years.

(4)A magistrate may be reappointed as the Deputy State Coroner.

s 78 amd 2023 No. 1 s 5

79Functions and powers of Deputy State Coroner

In addition to the functions and powers of a magistrate and coroner, the Deputy State Coroner has the functions and powers of the Deputy State Coroner under this or another Act.

79AResignation of Deputy State Coroner

(1)The person appointed as Deputy State Coroner may, by written notice to the Minister, resign as Deputy State Coroner.

(2)However, on resigning as Deputy State Coroner, the person does not stop being a magistrate.

s 79A ins 2009 No. 32 s 54

80When person stops being the Deputy State Coroner

(1)A person stops being the Deputy State Coroner—

(a)while the person is suspended as a magistrate; or

(b)if the person stops being a magistrate.

(2)For a magistrate who is the Deputy State Coroner, the duties mentioned in the Magistrates Act 1991, section 43(4) include the duties of the Deputy State Coroner.

s 80 amd 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

81Acting as Deputy State Coroner

(1)This section applies if—

(a)the Deputy State Coroner’s position is vacant; or

(b)the Deputy State Coroner is not available to perform the Deputy State Coroner’s functions, because of absence or another reason.

(2)The State Coroner may appoint a magistrate to act as the Deputy State Coroner.

(3)However, before appointing a magistrate to act, the State Coroner must discuss the matter with the Chief Magistrate.

(4)The instrument of appointment must state the period of the appointment.

(5)The period of appointment must not be longer than 6 months.

(6)However, the appointment may be renewed at any time.

(7)In this section—

magistrate does not include a person who is acting as a magistrate.

82Local coroners

(1)Every magistrate is a coroner (a local coroner).

(2)As well as the functions and powers of a magistrate, a local coroner has the functions and powers of a coroner under this or another Act.

(3)A person stops being a local coroner—

(a)while the person is suspended as a magistrate; or

(b)if the person stops being a magistrate.

(4)For a magistrate who is a local coroner, the duties of office mentioned in the Magistrates Act 1991, section 43(4) include the duties of a coroner.

(5)In this section—

magistrate includes a person who is acting as a magistrate.

s 82 amd 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

83Appointed coroners

(1)The Governor in Council may appoint a person as a coroner (an appointed coroner) if the person has been a lawyer for at least 5 years.

(2)An appointed coroner is entitled to the remuneration, allowances and employment conditions decided by the Governor in Council.

(3)The office of an appointed coroner is not subject to—

(a)an industrial instrument under the Industrial Relations Act 2016; or

(b)a decision or rule of the industrial court or industrial commission.

(4)An appointed coroner has the functions and powers of a coroner under this or another Act.

(5)An appointed coroner may be appointed to investigate a particular death or for a particular period, or otherwise.

s 83 amd 2005 No. 70 s 49; 2016 No. 63 s 1157 sch 6

84Registrar

(1)The Governor in Council may, by gazette notice, appoint a person as a registrar.

(2)Each registrar is employed under the Public Sector Act 2022.

s 84 amd 2009 No. 25 s 83 sch; 2020 No. 15 s 35; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

85Deputy registrars

(1)The Governor in Council may, by gazette notice, appoint a person as a deputy registrar.

(2)Also, each clerk of the court under the Justices Act 1886, other than a police officer, is a deputy registrar.

(3)Each deputy registrar is employed under the Public Sector Act 2022.

s 85 amd 2009 No. 25 s 83 sch; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

86Delegation of duties or powers to registrar or deputy registrars

(1)The State Coroner may delegate a power to—

(a)a registrar; or

(b)an appropriately qualified deputy registrar.

(2)Another coroner may, with the State Coroner’s approval, delegate a power to—

(a)a registrar; or

(b)an appropriately qualified deputy registrar.

(3)Without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a coroner may delegate the act of receiving a report under section 7 to—

(a)a registrar; or

(b)an appropriately qualified deputy registrar.

(4)Also, without limiting subsection (1) or (2), a coroner may delegate any or all of the following duties or powers to a registrar—

(a)the act of ordering the disposal of tissue under section 24;

(b)the act of ordering the release of a body for burial under section 26;

(c)the power to consent to a person accessing an investigation document under section 54(2), if the investigation to which the document relates is finished.

(5)However, a coroner who is not the State Coroner may only delegate a duty or power as mentioned in subsection (4) with the State Coroner’s consent.

(6)In performing a duty or exercising a power delegated under subsection (4), a registrar must consult with the coroner who delegated the duty or power.

(7)The State Coroner must consult with the chief executive about the amount of work to be done by the deputy registrar under the delegation, before—

(a)delegating a power to a deputy registrar; or

(b)approving the delegation of a power to a deputy registrar.

(8)In this section—

power—

(a)includes—

(i)the power to issue a permission to cremate under the Cremations Act 2003; and

(ii)the power to consent to the removal of tissue under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 24(2) or (3); but

(b)does not include—

(i)the power to conduct an inquest, including the power to make findings at the inquest; or

(ii)the power to authorise a police officer to exercise a power under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000.

s 86 amd 2009 No. 32 s 55; 2020 No. 15 s 36

87Obstruction

A person must not obstruct a coroner or other person performing a function under this Act, unless the person has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

88Immunity

(1)When performing a function of a coroner under this or another Act, a coroner has the same protection and immunity as a Supreme Court judge in a Supreme Court proceeding.

(2)A person mentioned in section 36(1)(a) or a person representing a person before the Coroners Court has the same protection and immunity as a lawyer appearing for a party in a Supreme Court proceeding.

(3)Subject to section 39, a person appearing as a witness before the Coroners Court has the same protection and immunity as a witness appearing in a Supreme Court proceeding.

(4)In this section—

function includes an administrative function.

Supreme Court proceeding means a judicial proceeding in the Supreme Court.

s 88 amd 2009 No. 32 s 56

89Coroner as witness

(1)A coroner can not be called to give evidence in a proceeding about anything that came to the coroner’s knowledge in performing a function of a coroner under this or another Act.

(2)However, this section does not apply to a proceeding relating to a coroner’s suspension as a magistrate.

90Coroner’s orders

A coroner’s order must be put into writing.

91Coroner’s service counts as magistrate’s service

When working out a coroner’s rights as a magistrate, service as a coroner counts as service as a magistrate.

pt 4A hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 1 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91APurpose of pt 4A

The purpose of this part is to establish the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board to—

(a)identify preventative measures to reduce the likelihood of domestic and family violence deaths in Queensland; and

(b)increase recognition of the impact of, and circumstances surrounding, domestic and family violence and gain a greater understanding of the context in which domestic and family violence deaths occur; and

(c)make recommendations to the Minister for implementation by government entities and non-government entities to prevent or reduce the likelihood of domestic and family violence deaths.

s 91A ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91BDefinitions for pt 4A

In this part—

board means the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board established under section 91C.

chairperson means the State Coroner or Deputy State Coroner holding office as chairperson under section 91K.

deputy chairperson means the person appointed as deputy chairperson of the board under section 91M.

domestic and family violence means domestic violence within the meaning of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, section 8.

domestic and family violence death means the death of a person (the deceased person)—

(a)

caused by another person (the second person) if—

(i)the deceased person was or had been in a relevant relationship with the second person that involved domestic and family violence; or

(ii)at the time of death, the deceased person was in a relevant relationship with a person who was or had been in a relevant relationship with the second person that involved domestic and family violence; or

(iii)at the time of death, the second person mistakenly believed the deceased person was in a relevant relationship with a person who was or had been in a relevant relationship with the second person that involved domestic and family violence; or

(iv)at the time of death, the deceased person was a witness to or present at, or attempted to intervene in, domestic and family violence between the second person and a person who was or had been in a relevant relationship with the second person; or

(v)at the time of death, the deceased person was a witness to or present at, or attempted to intervene in violence between the second person and a person who the second person mistakenly believed was in a relevant relationship with a person who was or had been in a relevant relationship with the second person that involved domestic and family violence; or

(b)by suicide or suspected suicide if the person was or had been in a relevant relationship with another person that involved domestic and family violence.

expert reports see section 91G(2)(b).

member means—

(a)the chairperson; or

(b)a member of the board appointed under section 91J(b).

relevant relationship see the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, section 13.

Note—

Under the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, section 13, a relevant relationship means an intimate personal relationship, a family relationship or an informal care relationship, as defined under that Act.

State employee means a person who is a prescribed person under the Public Sector Act 2022, section 267.

s 91B def State employee amd 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

s 91B ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 2 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91CEstablishment

The Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board is established.

s 91C ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91DFunctions

(1)The board has the following functions—

(a)to review domestic and family violence deaths in Queensland, including—

(i)deaths that occurred before the board was established; and

(ii)deaths that are still being investigated under this Act;

(b)to analyse data and apply research to identify patterns, trends and risk factors relating to domestic and family violence deaths in Queensland;

(c)to carry out, or engage other persons to carry out, research to prevent or reduce the likelihood of domestic and family violence deaths;

(d)to use data, research findings and expert reports to compile systemic reports into domestic and family violence deaths, including identifying key learnings and elements of good practice in the prevention and reduction in the likelihood of domestic and family violence deaths in Queensland;

(e)to make recommendations to the Minister about improvements to legislation, policies, practices, services, training, resources and communication for implementation by government entities and non-government entities to prevent or reduce the likelihood of domestic and family violence deaths in Queensland;

(f)to monitor the implementation of recommendations made under paragraph (e).

(2)The board may perform its functions in relation to the death of a person who dies outside Queensland if it is a reportable death mentioned in section 8(2)(b).

(3)It is not a function of the board to carry out an investigation of a death.

s 91D ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91EReview function

Without limiting the matters to which the board may have regard in reviewing a domestic and family violence death, the board must consider the following matters—

(a)the events leading up to the death;

(b)any interaction with, and the effectiveness of, any support or other services provided to the deceased person and the person who caused the death;

(c)the general availability of services mentioned in paragraph (b);

(d)failures in systems or services that may have contributed to, or failed to prevent, the death.

s 91E ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91FRelationship with coroners

(1)The board may review a domestic and family violence death even though the death is or may be the subject of investigation by a coroner.

(2)The review is independent of, and separate to, the investigation by the coroner.

s 91F ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91GPowers

(1)The board may do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the board may engage persons with appropriate qualifications and experience to—

(a)conduct research relevant to the board’s functions; and

(b)prepare reports (expert reports) to help the board perform its functions.

s 91G ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91HBoard must act independently and in public interest

(1)In performing its functions, the board must act independently and in the public interest.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the board is not subject to direction by anyone, including the Minister, about how it performs its functions.

s 91H ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91IAdministrative support for board

The chief executive must ensure the board has the administrative support services reasonably required for the board to perform its functions effectively and efficiently.

s 91I ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 3 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91JMembers of board

The board consists of—

(a)the chairperson; and

(b)not more than 11 other persons appointed by the Minister that the Minister considers appropriate.

s 91J ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91KChairperson

(1)The Minister must appoint the State Coroner or the Deputy State Coroner as the chairperson of the board.

(2)The chairperson holds office for the term stated in the person’s instrument of appointment as chairperson.

(3)The chairperson is responsible for leading and directing the activities of the board to ensure the board performs its functions appropriately.

s 91K ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91LAppointment of other members

(1)In making an appointment of a member other than the chairperson, the Minister must ensure—

(a)the membership of the board reflects the diversity of the Queensland community and includes at least one member who is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and

(b)the membership of the board includes representatives of government entities and non-government entities; and

(c)that members have experience, knowledge or skills the Minister considers relevant to the board’s functions, for example, experience, knowledge or skills in relation to domestic and family violence, the justice system and health.

(2)A person may not be appointed as a member if the person—

(a)is an insolvent under administration; or

(b)has a conviction, other than a spent conviction, for an indictable offence; or

(c)is a member of the Legislative Assembly.

s 91L ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

amd 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 ss 2(2), 12

91MDeputy chairperson

(1)The Minister may appoint a member of the board to be the deputy chairperson of the board.

(2)A member may be appointed as the deputy chairperson at the same time as the person is appointed as a member.

(3)A vacancy arises in the office of deputy chairperson if the person holding the office—

(a)resigns office by signed notice given to the Minister; or

(b)ceases to be a member.

(4)A person resigning the office of deputy chairperson may continue to be a member.

(5)The deputy chairperson is to act as chairperson—

(a)during a vacancy in the office of the chairperson; and

(b)during all periods when the chairperson is absent from duty or for another reason can not perform the duties of the office.

s 91M ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91NConditions of appointment

(1)A member is to be paid the remuneration and allowances decided by the Minister.

(2)A member who is a State employee is not entitled to be paid remuneration for holding office as a member.

(3)For matters not provided for by this Act, a member holds office on the terms and conditions decided by the Minister.

s 91N ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91OTerm of appointment

(1)A member is appointed for the term, of not more than 3 years, stated in the member’s instrument of appointment.

(2)A member may be reappointed.

s 91O ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91PVacation of office

(1)The office of a member becomes vacant if the member—

(a)completes the member’s term of office and is not reappointed; or

(b)resigns from office by signed notice given to the Minister; or

(c)is an insolvent under administration; or

(d)is convicted of an indictable offence; or

(e)becomes a member of the Legislative Assembly; or

(f)is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of the board—

(i)without the board’s permission; and

(ii)without reasonable excuse; or

(g)is removed from office by the Minister under subsection (2).

(2)The Minister may end the appointment of a member if the Minister is satisfied the member is incapable of satisfactorily performing the member’s duties.

s 91P ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

amd 2023 No. 23 s 247 sch 1 s 2(2)

pt 4A div 4 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91QCriminal history report

(1)To decide if a person can not be appointed or continue as a member, the Minister may ask the commissioner of the police service for—

(a)a written report about the criminal history of the person; and

(b)a brief description of the circumstances of a conviction mentioned in the criminal history.

(2)However, the Minister may make the request only if the person has given the Minister written consent for the request.

(3)The commissioner of the police service must comply with the request.

(4)However, the duty to comply applies only to information in the commissioner’s possession or to which the commissioner has access.

(5)The Minister must ensure the report is destroyed as soon as practicable after it is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was requested.

s 91Q ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91RNew convictions must be disclosed

(1)This section applies if a person who is a member is convicted of an indictable offence during the term of the member’s appointment.

(2)The person must, unless the person has a reasonable excuse, immediately give notice of the conviction to the Minister.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(3)The notice must include all of the following—

(a)the existence of the conviction;

(b)when the offence was committed;

(c)details adequate to identify the offence;

(d)the sentence imposed on the person.

s 91R ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 5 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91STime and place of meetings

(1)The board may hold its meetings when and where it decides.

(2)The chairperson—

(a)may at any time call a meeting of the board; and

(b)must call a meeting if asked by at least 3 other members.

s 91S ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91TQuorum

A quorum for a meeting of the board is at least half of the members.

s 91T ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91UPresiding at meetings

(1)The chairperson presides at all meetings of the board at which the chairperson is present.

(2)If the chairperson is not present at a meeting, the deputy chairperson is to preside.

(3)If neither the chairperson nor the deputy chairperson is present at a meeting, the member chosen by the members present is to preside.

s 91U ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91VConduct of meetings

(1)Subject to this division, the board may conduct its proceedings, including its meetings, as it considers appropriate.

(2)The board may hold meetings, or allow members to take part in meetings, by using any technology allowing reasonably contemporaneous and continuous communication between persons taking part in the meeting.

(3)A member who takes part in a meeting of the board under subsection (2) is taken to be present at the meeting.

(4)A question at a meeting of the board is to be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present at the meeting.

(5)If the votes are equal, the member presiding has a casting vote.

(6)A resolution is a valid resolution of the board, even though it is not passed at a meeting of the board, if—

(a)at least half the members give written agreement to the resolution; and

(b)notice of the resolution is given under procedures approved by the board.

s 91V ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91WMinutes and other records

The board must keep—

(a)minutes of its meetings; and

(b)a record of any decisions and resolutions of the board.

s 91W ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 6 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91XDisclosure of conflict of interest

(1)If—

(a)a member has a direct or indirect pecuniary or other interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered at a meeting of the board; and

(b)the interest appears to raise a conflict with the proper performance of the member’s duties in relation to the consideration of the matter;

      the member must, as soon as practicable after the relevant facts have come to the member’s knowledge, disclose the nature of the interest at a meeting of the board.

(2)Particulars of a disclosure made under this section must be recorded by the board in a register of interests kept for the purpose.

(3)After a member has disclosed the nature of an interest in a matter, the member must not be present during a deliberation of the board about the matter, unless the board otherwise decides.

(4)For the making of a decision by the board under subsection (3), a member who has a direct or indirect pecuniary or other interest in a matter to which the disclosure relates must not—

(a)be present during the deliberation of the board for the purpose of making the decision; or

(b)take part in the making of the decision by the board.

(5)A contravention of this section does not invalidate a decision of the board.

(6)However, if the board becomes aware a member contravened this section, the board must reconsider a decision made by the board in which the member took part in contravention of this section.

s 91X ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 7 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91YRight to information

(1)To perform its functions, the board has a right to all information in the custody or under the control of a prescribed entity.

(2)The board may, by written notice given to a prescribed entity, require the entity, within a stated reasonable period—

(a)to give the information to the board; and

(b)if the information is contained in a document—to allow the board to inspect the document and take a copy of it.

(3)The notice must state the purpose for making the requirement.

(4)The prescribed entity must comply with the notice, unless the entity has a reasonable excuse.

Maximum penalty—100 penalty units.

(5)Without limiting subsection (4), it is a reasonable excuse for a prescribed entity to fail to comply with the notice because complying with the notice—

(a)if the entity is an individual—might tend to incriminate the individual; or

(b)would require the entity to disclose information that is the subject of legal professional privilege; or

(c)would prejudice the effectiveness of a lawful method or procedure for preventing, detecting, investigating or dealing with a contravention or possible contravention of a law; or

(d)would enable the existence or identity of a confidential source of information, in relation to the enforcement or administration of a law, to be ascertained; or

(e)would endanger a person’s life or physical safety; or

(f)would prejudice a prosecution or another matter before a court.

(6)For subsection (1), information is not taken to be in the prescribed entity’s control merely because of an agreement between the prescribed entity and another entity under which the other entity must give the information to the prescribed entity.

(7)For subsection (4), if the notice requires the prescribed entity to allow the board to inspect a document that contains exempt information, the entity may comply with the notice by allowing the board to inspect a copy of the document with any exempt information obliterated.

(8)This section applies despite any other Act.

(9)In this section—

exempt information, for a prescribed entity, means information for which the entity considers it would not be required to give because of a reasonable excuse mentioned in subsection (5).

prescribed entity means any of the following—

(a)the chief executive of a department;

(b)the Queensland Family and Child Commission;

(c)the commissioner of the police service;

(d)an entity that provides services to persons in relevant relationships if those persons are affected by domestic and family violence deaths;

(e)an entity prescribed by regulation.

s 91Y ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZBoard may enter into arrangement with State Coroner

(1)The board may enter into an arrangement with the State Coroner about the exchange of information between a coroner and the board.

(2)Without limiting what may be included in an arrangement, the arrangement may provide for—

(a)the board to be notified by a coroner that a reportable death is, or is likely to be, a domestic and family violence death and how and when the notification is to occur; and

(b)coroners giving the board access to the following documents for performing the board’s functions—

(i)an investigation document that relates to the domestic and family violence death of a particular person;

(ii)all investigation documents that relate to domestic and family violence deaths; and

(c)the board to give coroners access to documents in the board’s possession or control that are relevant to an investigation; and

(d)how, when and where documents may be accessed under the arrangement.

(3)The State Coroner may give the board access to an investigation document under the arrangement.

(4)Sections 52(1)(c), 53, 54 and 55 do not apply in relation to access to an investigation document under the arrangement.

(5)In this section—

investigation document includes a document obtained under the Coroners Act 1958 that is similar in nature to an investigation document as defined in schedule 2.

s 91Z ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZAInformation sharing arrangements with other jurisdictions

(1)For its functions, the board may enter into an arrangement with a corresponding entity about sharing or exchanging information held by the board or the corresponding agency.

(2)Under the arrangement, the board may disclose information in its possession or under its control unless the disclosure would prejudice the investigation of a contravention or possible contravention of a law or an investigation by a coroner.

(3)However, before disclosing coronial information under the arrangement the board must consult the State Coroner about the proposed disclosure.

(4)In this section—

coronial information means information in the board’s possession or under the board’s control that was given to the board by the State coroner.

corresponding entity means an entity in another State that performs the same functions, or substantially the same functions, as the board

information includes a document.

s 91ZA ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 8 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZBAnnual report

(1)The board must, within 3 months after the end of each financial year, give the Minister a report (an annual report) in relation to the performance of the board’s functions during the financial year.

(2)The annual report must include information about the progress made during the financial year to implement recommendations made by the board during that year or previous financial years.

(3)The Minister must table a copy of the report in the Legislative Assembly within one month after receiving it.

s 91ZB ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZCReport about systemic matter

(1)The board may prepare a report about a matter arising from the performance of the board’s functions.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), the board may prepare a report—

(a)about its findings in relation to a review carried out by the board; or

(b)making recommendations to the Minister about any other matter likely to prevent or reduce domestic and family violence deaths.

(3)If the board proposes to include information adverse to a person in the report—

(a)the board must not include the information in the report unless, before the report is prepared, the board gives the person an opportunity to make submissions about the information; and

(b)if the person makes submissions and the board still proposes to include the information in the report, the board must ensure the person’s submissions are fairly stated in the report.

(4)The board may, if it considers it appropriate, give a copy of the report to the Minister.

(5)If the report includes information relating to a death that is still being investigated by a coroner, the board must—

(a)give the coroner a copy of the report; and

(b)if the board intends to give a copy of the report to the Minister—ensure the copy is given to the coroner before giving the Minister a copy.

(6)If the board gives a copy of the report to the Minister, the board must make a recommendation about whether the report should be tabled in the Legislative Assembly.

(7)The board may make a recommendation that a report be tabled in the Legislative Assembly only if the report does not contain information that is in a form that identifies or may identify an individual in the individual’s private capacity.

(8)If the board recommends the report not be tabled in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister may table the report only if the Minister is satisfied the public interest in tabling the report outweighs any other considerations.

(9)If the board recommends the report be tabled in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister must table the report within 5 sitting days after receiving it.

s 91ZC ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

pt 4A div 9 hdg ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZDConfidentiality

(1)This section applies to a person who is or was—

(a)a member; or

(b)a person engaged to help in the performance of the board’s functions.

(2)The person must not disclose confidential information to anyone else other than to the extent the disclosure is permitted under this section.

Maximum penalty—200 penalty units.

(3)Confidential information may be disclosed—

(a)in the performance of a function under this Act; or

(b)to the commissioner of the police service in connection with a possible criminal offence; or

(c)to a coroner to the extent it may relate to a reportable death; or

(d)to the Crime and Corruption Commission; or

(e)to the ombudsman about the death of a person to the extent it is relevant to the performance of the ombudsman’s functions; or

(f)to the extent otherwise required or permitted under this Act or another Act.

Example—

Confidential information may be disclosed under an arrangement with a corresponding entity under section 91ZA.

(4)The person can not be compelled to disclose the confidential information, including giving evidence in relation to the confidential information, in any proceeding.

(5)In this section—

confidential information means information that—

(a)is not publicly available; and

(b)is in a form that identifies or may identify an individual; and

(c)was acquired by, or may be accessed by, a person in the person’s capacity as mentioned in subsection (1).

disclose includes give access to.

information includes a document.

s 91ZD ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

91ZEProtection from liability for members and persons helping board perform functions

(1)A member or a person engaged to help in the performance of the board’s functions is not civilly liable for an act done, or omission made, honestly and without negligence under this part.

(2)If subsection (1) prevents a civil liability attaching to a member or other person, the liability attaches instead to the State.

(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to a member or other person who is a prescribed person under the Public Sector Act 2022, section 267.

Note—

For protection from civil liability in relation to prescribed persons under the Public Sector Act 2022, section 267, see the Public Sector Act 2022, section 269.

s 91ZE ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

amd 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

91ZFProtection from liability for providing information

(1)This section applies to an entity that gives information to the board as required by a notice under section 91Y.

(2)The entity is not liable, civilly, criminally or under an administrative process, for giving the information.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2)—

(a)the giving of the information does not constitute a breach of professional etiquette or ethics or a departure from accepted standards of professional conduct; and

(b)no liability for defamation is incurred by the entity because of the giving of the information.

(4)The protection given to the entity by this section extends to—

(a)an entity that, in good faith, provided the person with any information on the basis of which the information was given; and

(b)an entity that was otherwise concerned in the giving of the information.

s 91ZF ins 2015 No. 18 s 5

92Register of deaths

(1)The State Coroner must establish a register of all deaths or suspected deaths investigated under this Act.

(2)The register must contain the following information for each death—

(a)the date on which the person’s death was reported or otherwise brought to the coroner’s notice;

(b)a summary of any findings of the investigation, including any inquest;

(c)a summary of any comments made at any inquest.

(3)For each death or suspected death that a coroner investigates, the coroner must give the information mentioned in subsection (2) to the State Coroner.

93National coronial database

(1)This section applies if an entity, including a government entity, maintains a database about coronial investigations.

(2)The Minister may, for the State, enter into an arrangement with the entity for stated information obtained under this Act to be included in the database.

(3)The Minister may enter into the arrangement only if satisfied—

(a)the entity has a legitimate interest in storing the information in the database; and

(b)the entity will make the information available only to persons with a legitimate interest in obtaining it; and

(c)the conditions for making the information available to database users are reasonable.

(4)This section does not affect, and is not affected by, section 53.

94Evidentiary aids

(1)In a proceeding, the following matters must be presumed unless a party to the proceeding, by reasonable notice, requires proof of the matter—

(a)the appointment of a coroner, registrar or deputy registrar;

(b)the power of a coroner, registrar or deputy registrar to do anything under this Act.

(2)A signature purporting to be the signature of a coroner is evidence of the signature it purports to be.

(3)A certificate purporting to be signed by a coroner, registrar or deputy registrar stating any of the following is evidence of the things it states—

(a)a stated document is an order, direction, requirement or decision, or a copy of an order, direction, requirement or decision, given or made under this Act;

(b)a stated document is a notice, or a copy of a notice, given under this Act;

(c)a stated document is a record, or a copy of a record, kept under this Act;

(d)a stated document is a document, or a copy of a document, kept under this Act.

s 94 amd 2020 No. 15 s 37

95Authorising burial of body etc.

(1)A person must not—

(a)prepare a human body for burial; or

(b)bury a human body; or

(c)take a human body out of Queensland;

unless the person is authorised to do so under subsection (2).

Maximum penalty—120 penalty units.

(2)A person is authorised if—

(a)for a death investigated by a coroner—

(i)a certificate of the cause of death under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023 has been issued with the coroner’s consent; or

(ii)the coroner has ordered the release of the body under section 26; or

(b)for a death investigated by a non-Queensland coroner—a non-Queensland coroner’s release certificate has been issued; or

(c)otherwise—a cause of death certificate has been issued.

(3)This section does not apply to—

(a)part of a human body taken during an autopsy under—

(i)this Act, the Coroners Act 1958 or the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979; or

(ii)an Act of another State or country that is similar in effect to an Act mentioned in subparagraph (i); or

(b)part of a human body—

(i)taken during a medical procedure; or

(ii)used at a school of anatomy for the study and practice of anatomy; or

(c)indigenous burial remains; or

(d)the taking of a human body to any type of mortuary.

(4)In this section—

school of anatomy see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 4.

s 95 amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2019 No. 13 s 6; 2023 No. 17 s 160

96Application of Act to stillborn child

Only sections 12(2)(c), 19, 25(1) to (3), 26(2)(c) and 95 of this Act apply to a stillborn child.

s 96 amd 2003 No. 77 s 43; 2009 No. 32 s 57

97Notifying registrar when body is released and investigation ends

(1)When a coroner orders the release of a deceased person’s body for burial, or to another jurisdiction, under section 26, the coroner must give a copy of the order to the registrar.

(2)On completion of an investigation into a death, a coroner must give the registrar a written notice, in the form required by the registrar and in an approved way, that states—

(a)who the deceased person was; and

(b)when the person died; and

(c)where the person died, and in particular whether the person died in Queensland; and

(d)what caused the person to die; and

(e)the date of the coroner’s findings; and

(f)whether or not an inquest has been held into the death, and if an inquest has been held, the date and place of the inquest.

(3)In this section—

approved way, of giving a notice, means a way that is—

(a)approved by the registrar; and

(b)published on the department’s website or www.qld.gov.au .

registrar means the registrar under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023.

s 97 prev s 97 om 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

pres s 97 ins 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

amd 2023 No. 17 s 161

98Approval of forms

The State Coroner may approve forms for use under this Act.

99Regulation-making power

(1)The Governor in Council may make regulations under this Act.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), a regulation may—

(a)prescribe offences for a contravention of a regulation, and fix a maximum penalty of not more than 20 penalty units for a contravention; or

(b)prescribe fees payable under this Act, including for example—

(i)the fee payable to a doctor for an autopsy; or

(ii)the fee payable for a copy of an investigation document.

pt 6 hdg sub 2020 No. 15 s 38

pt 6 div 1 hdg ins 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

amd 2009 No. 32 s 58

sub 2020 No. 15 s 38

99ADefinitions for division

In this division—

former section 100 means section 100 as in force before the commencement of this section.

unfinished repealed Act inquest see section 99B.

s 99A ins 2020 No. 15 s 39

99BMeaning of unfinished repealed Act inquest

An unfinished repealed Act inquest is an inquest within the meaning of the repealed Coroners Act 1958, section 5, that—

(a)started under the repealed Act or the repealed Act as applied under former section 100; and

(b)had not concluded before the commencement of this section.

s 99B ins 2020 No. 15 s 39

100A Application of repealed Act to unfinished repealed Act inquest

The repealed Coroners Act 1958 continues to apply to an unfinished repealed Act inquest unless the inquest is, under section 100B, stopped and reopened as an inquest under this Act.

s 100A ins 2020 No. 15 s 41

100B Stopping and reopening an unfinished repealed Act inquest

(1)A coroner who is holding an unfinished repealed Act inquest may, on his or her own initiative—

(a)stop the inquest, without a finding being given under the repealed Coroners Act 1958, section 43; and

(b)reopen the inquest as an inquest under this Act.

(2)Also, the State Coroner may, on his or her own initiative, direct another coroner to stop and reopen an unfinished repealed Act inquest under subsection (1)(a) and (b).

s 100B ins 2020 No. 15 s 41

100C Reopening finished repealed Act inquest

(1)Sections 50 and 50A apply for reopening a finished repealed Act inquest as if the references in the sections to an inquest included references to a finished repealed Act inquest.

(2)In this section—

finished repealed Act inquest means an inquest, within the meaning of the repealed Coroners Act 1958, section 5, that has concluded under the repealed Act or the repealed Act as applied under former section 100.

s 100C ins 2020 No. 15 s 41

100D Effect on rights and privileges

(1)Sections 100B and 100C have effect—

(a)despite any right or privilege acquired by, or accrued to, a person under the repealed Coroners Act 1958; and

(b)despite the Acts Interpretation Act 1954, section 20.

(2)Without limiting subsection (1), to remove any doubt, it is declared that this Act applies in relation to a person giving evidence at an inquest reopened under section 100B, or section 50 or 50A as applied under section 100C, even if the person has claimed the privilege against self-incrimination or incrimination of the person’s spouse under the repealed Coroners Act 1958, section 33(2) or that section as applied under former section 100.

s 100D ins 2020 No. 15 s 41

100E Application of s 24(7) to specimen tissue

(1)This section applies if—

(a)before 1 December 2003—

(i)during an autopsy of a body, tissue was removed from the body for testing; and

(ii)the tissue was turned into specimen tissue; or

(b)on or after 1 December 2003 and before the commencement of this section—

(i)during an autopsy of a body under the repealed Coroners Act 1958 as applied under former section 100, tissue was removed from the body for testing; and

(ii)the tissue was turned into specimen tissue.

(2)To remove any doubt, it is declared that section 24(7) does not apply, and never has applied, in relation to the specimen tissue.

(3)Subsection (4) applies if—

(a)an inquest into the death of a person is reopened under section 100B or section 50 or 50A as applied under section 100C; and

(b)before the inquest is reopened, tissue has been removed from the person’s body and turned into specimen tissue; and

(c)immediately before the inquest is reopened, the specimen tissue is still being kept.

(4)Despite subsection (2), section 24(7) applies in relation to the specimen tissue.

(5)In this section—

autopsy includes a post-mortem examination under the repealed Coroners Act 1958 or that Act as applied under former section 100.

specimen tissue see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 29(8).

s 100E ins 2020 No. 15 s 41

101Appointments continue

(1)A clerk of the court, or acting clerk of the court, who immediately before the commencement of this section was holding an inquest is taken to be a coroner for the purpose of the inquest.

(2)Another person who, immediately before the commencement of this section, held an appointment to a position under the Coroners Act 1958 that is equivalent to a position under this Act is taken to hold the position under this Act.

(3)The person continues to hold the appointment subject to this Act until—

(a)the end of the term of appointment; or

(b)reappointed under this Act.

102Orders continue

An order of the Coroners Court, or a coroner, that is in force immediately before the commencement of this section continues to have effect after the commencement.

103References to repealed Act

A reference to the Coroners Act 1958 in an Act or document may, if the context allows, be taken to be a reference to this Act.

104Common law overridden

(1)A rule of common law that, immediately before the commencement of this section, operated to impose a duty or confer a power on a coroner of the Coroners Court, has no effect after the commencement.

(2)In particular—

(a)a coroner investigating a person’s death need not view the person’s body unless the coroner chooses to; and

(b)a Coroners Court does not sit with a jury.

pt 6 div 2 hdg ins 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

amd 2009 No. 32 s 58

106Deaths reported under the old 3 month rule

(1)This section applies to a death reported under section 8(3)(h) as in force immediately before the commencement of this section.

(2)This Act as in force immediately before the commencement of this section continues to apply to the death.

s 106 ins 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

107Effectiveness of this div

It is declared that the enactment of this division is, and always has been, as effective as it would have been if the amendment of the Act by the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003, schedule 1, Coroners Act 2003, item 9 directed that this division be inserted in part 6 of this Act.

s 107 ins 2004 No. 43 s 3 sch

pt 6 div 3 hdg ins 2005 No. 40 s 69 sch

108Death in care

For section 9, a person’s death is a death in care if, when the person died, the person was a child—

(a)about whom an authorised officer was investigating, or had investigated, alleged harm or alleged risk of harm under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 14; and

(b)who was residing with someone other than the person with whom the child normally resided as a result of an agreement, between a parent or guardian of the child and the chief executive (child safety), entered into before the commencement of the Child Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2005, section 14.

s 108 ins 2005 No. 40 s 69 sch

pt 6 div 4 hdg ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

109Definitions for div 4

In this division—

amendment means amendment under the Coroners and Other Acts Amendment Act 2009.

previous, followed by a provision number, means the provision of that number as in force before its amendment.

s 109 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

110Continued application of particular provisions

Despite the Coroners and Other Acts Amendment Act 2009, each of the following provisions continues to apply to the death of a person who died before the provision’s amendment commenced—

•previous section 8

•previous section 9

•previous section 10.

s 110 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

111Application of s 12

Section 12 applies in relation to the death of a person whether the person died before or after the commencement of this section.

s 111 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

112Notice of inquest

A notice of inquest complying with previous section 32 and given before the commencement of this section is taken to comply with section 32.

s 112 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

113Application of s 36

(1)This section applies if—

(a)before the commencement, the Coroners Court considered a person had a sufficient interest in an inquest; and

(b)on the commencement, the person had not exercised the person’s rights under section 36(1).

(2)Previous section 36 continues to apply in relation to the person for the inquest.

(3)In this section—

commencement means the commencement of this section.

s 113 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

114Validation relating to State Coroner

(1)This section applies to—

(a)the purported appointment, at any time before the commencement of this section, of the State Coroner to act as Deputy Chief Magistrate; and

(b)the purported acting, at any time before the commencement of this section, of the State Coroner as Chief Magistrate under the Magistrates Act 1991, section 14(b) while purportedly appointed as Deputy Chief Magistrate.

(2)The purported appointment or purported acting is taken to have been valid and always to have been valid.

(3)Every decision or order made, sentence imposed or anything done by the State Coroner—

(a)while purportedly appointed as Deputy Chief Magistrate; or

(b)while purportedly acting as Chief Magistrate under the Magistrates Act 1991, section 14(b) while purportedly appointed as Deputy Chief Magistrate;

is taken to have been valid, and always to have been valid, to the same extent as would be the case if the purported appointment or purported acting were valid.

s 114 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

115Validation relating to Deputy State Coroner

(1)This section applies to the purported acting, at any time before the commencement of this section, of the Deputy State Coroner as State Coroner under section 74(6) because of a purported appointment or purported acting mentioned in section 114(1).

(2)The purported acting as State Coroner is taken to have been valid and always to have been valid.

(3)Every decision or order made or anything done by the Deputy State Coroner while purportedly acting as State Coroner is taken to have been valid, and always to have been valid, to the same extent as would be the case if the purported acting were valid.

s 115 ins 2009 No. 32 s 59

pt 6 div 5 hdg ins 2019 No. 19 s 52

116Deaths before commencement

This Act as in force immediately before the commencement continues to apply in relation to the death of a person before the commencement.

s 116 ins 2019 No. 19 s 52

pt 6 div 6 hdg ins 2023 No. 1 s 6

117State Coroner and Deputy State Coroner holding office before commencement

(1)This section applies to the appointments of the persons who hold office as the State Coroner and the Deputy State Coroner immediately before the commencement.

(2)Sections 70 and 78, as in force from the commencement, apply to the appointments.

(3)Without limiting subsection (2), each person may be reappointed to the office regardless of—

(a)whether the person’s term of appointment was renewed before the commencement; and

(b)the length of time the person held the office before the commencement.

s 117 ins 2023 No. 1 s 6

section 6

accessing a document includes getting a copy of the document.

appointed coroner see section 83.

ATSI family member, for a deceased person who was an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander, means a person who is an appropriate person according to the tradition or custom of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community to which the deceased person belonged.

attending doctor of a deceased person means a doctor who attended the deceased person professionally—

(a)at or immediately before the deceased person’s death; or

(b)during the deceased person’s last illness.

autopsy certificate means an autopsy certificate mentioned in section 24A(3)(a).

sch 2 def autopsy certificate ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

autopsy notice means an autopsy notice mentioned in section 24A(2)(a).

sch 2 def autopsy notice ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

autopsy report means a written report prepared by a doctor, including a preliminary report, to record information about the autopsy on a deceased person, including for example—

(a)the results of any tests that were conducted as part of the autopsy; or

(b)the cause of the person’s death.

board, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def board ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

body means—

(a)a human body; or

(b)part of a human body.

burial includes cremation or other lawful disposal, either in Queensland or elsewhere.

cause of death certificate means—

(a)a cause of death certificate under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023; or

(b)a similar certificate issued under a law of another State or country that is similar in effect to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023.

sch 2 def cause of death certificate amd 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1; 2023 No. 17 s 162

chairperson, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def chairperson ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

chief executive (child safety) means the chief executive of the department in which the Child Protection Act 1999 is administered.

sch 2 def chief executive (child safety) ins 2004 No. 13 s 96 (1)

child death research functions, for the family and child commissioner, means the commissioner’s functions under the Family and Child Commission Act 2014, part 3.

sch 2 def child death research functions ins 2004 No. 13 s 96 (1)

amd 2010 No. 5 s 248 sch 3

sub 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

child in a placement with the consent of a parent or guardian ...

sch 2 def child in a placement with the consent of a parent or guardian ins 2004 No. 13 s 96 (1)

om 2005 No. 40 s 69 sch

children’s commissioner ...

sch 2 def children’s commissioner ins 2004 No. 13 s 96 (1)

om 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

comment includes a recommendation.

confidential document means a document containing, or the part of a document that contains, information obtained under any of the following provisions—

(a)section 17;

(b)the Child Protection Act 1999, section 159P;

(c)the Public Health Act 2005, section 56 or 86.

sch 2 def confidential document sub 2004 No. 36 s 60

amd 2005 No. 48 s 492 sch 1

coroner means—

(a)the State Coroner; or

(b)the Deputy State Coroner; or

(c)a local coroner; or

(d)an appointed coroner.

coronial document means a document prepared for an investigation, other than a record, or a copy of a record, of an inquest made under the Recording of Evidence Act 1962.

Examples—

•an autopsy certificate, autopsy notice or autopsy report

•a report from a police officer helping a coroner about the investigation into a reportable death

•a record of the coroner’s findings and comments

sch 2 def coronial document sub 2009 No. 32 s 60

death in care see section 9.

death in custody see section 10.

de facto partner ...

sch 2 def de facto partner om 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

deputy chairperson, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def deputy chairperson ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

deputy registrar means a person who holds an appointment as a deputy registrar under section 85.

direction see section 14.

document includes part of a document.

domestic and family violence, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def domestic and family violence ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

domestic and family violence death, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def domestic and family violence death ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

exhume a body includes remove a body from a tomb.

expert reports, for part 4A, see section 91G(2)(b).

sch 2 def expert reports ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

family and child commissioner means the principal commissioner under the Family and Child Commission Act 2014.

sch 2 def family and child commissioner ins 2014 No. 27 s 52 sch 1 pt 2

family member, of a deceased person, means—

(a)if the coroner investigating the death becomes aware of a document satisfying the coroner that the deceased person’s wish would have been that a particular person be the deceased person’s family member for this Act—the particular person; or

Example of document for paragraph (a)—

an advance health directive under the Powers of Attorney Act 1998 appointing the particular person as the deceased person’s attorney

(b)if paragraph (a) does not apply—

(i)a spouse of the deceased person; or

(ii)if a spouse is not reasonably available—an adult child of the deceased person; or

(iii)if a spouse or adult child is not reasonably available—a parent of the deceased person; or

(iv)if a spouse, adult child or parent is not reasonably available—an adult sibling of the deceased person; or

(v)if a spouse, adult child, parent or adult sibling is not reasonably available—an adult who, immediately before the deceased person’s death, had a relationship with the deceased person that the coroner investigating the death considers is sufficient for being a family member of the deceased person for this Act; or

(vi)if the deceased person was an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander and a spouse, adult child, parent or adult sibling is not reasonably available—an ATSI family member.

sch 2 def family member sub 2009 No. 32 s 60

government entity see the Public Sector Act 2022, section 276.

sch 2 def government entity amd 2009 No. 25 s 83 sch; 2022 No. 34 s 365 sch 3

guideline see section 14.

health care related death see section 10AA.

sch 2 def health care related death ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

health chief executive means the chief executive of the department in which the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 is administered.

sch 2 def health chief executive amd 2005 No. 48 s 492 sch 1

sub 2011 No. 32 s 332 sch 1 pt 2 (amd 2012 No. 9 s 47)

health procedure means a dental, medical, surgical or other health related procedure, including for example the administration of an anaesthetic, analgesic, sedative or other drug.

human body includes the body of a stillborn child.

indigenous burial remains means—

(a)Aboriginal human remains as defined in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003; or

(b)Torres Strait Islander human remains as defined in the Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003.

def indigenous burial remains sub 2009 No. 32 s 60

inquest means a coronial inquest.

investigation includes—

(a)a preliminary examination; and

(b)a preliminary investigation by a coroner to decide, for section 11(2)(a), whether a death is a reportable death; and

(c)the holding of an inquest.

sch 2 def investigation sub 2009 No. 32 s 60

amd 2020 No. 15 s 42(2)–(3)

investigation document, for an investigation under this Act, means—

(a)a confidential document; or

(b)a coronial document; or

(c)a police document; or

(d)another document or part of a document connected to the investigation that the coroner obtains under this Act; or

(e)a document connected to the investigation that is given, under the Child Protection Act 1999, section 246H, to the State Coroner for use by a coroner; or

(f)a document connected to the investigation that is given, under the Ombudsman Act 2001, section 57A, to the State Coroner for use by a coroner.

sch 2 def investigation document amd 2004 No. 13 s 96 (2)

local coroner see section 82.

medical procedure means a diagnostic or surgical procedure.

member, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def member ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

non-Queensland coroner, in relation to a death, means a person who holds a position equivalent to a coroner at the place where the death happened.

non-Queensland coroner’s release certificate means a certificate that—

(a)authorises the release of the body; and

(b)is given by a non-Queensland coroner.

not reasonably available, in relation to a family member of a deceased person, means—

(a)a family member of that particular type does not exist; or

(b)the family member can not be reasonably contacted; or

(c)the family member is unable or unwilling to act as a family member for this Act.

obstruct includes hinder, resist and attempt to obstruct.

owns, in relation to a prescribed tissue bank, see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 42A(6).

sch 2 def owns ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

police document means a document or part of a document prepared, or obtained, by a police officer for a police investigation of an offence that is related to a death being investigated by a coroner.

possess a document includes have control of a document.

preliminary examination see section 11AA.

sch 2 def preliminary examination ins 2020 No. 15 s 42(1)

prescribed tissue bank means a tissue bank prescribed under the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979.

sch 2 def prescribed tissue bank ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

reasonably believes means believes on reasonable grounds.

record made under the Recording of Evidence Act 1962 includes a transcription of the record made under that Act.

registered NDIS provider see the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (Cwlth), section 9.

sch 2 def registered NDIS provider ins 2019 No. 19 s 53

registrar means a person who holds an appointment as a registrar under section 84.

relevant relationship, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def relevant relationship ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

reportable death see section 8.

residential service see the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002, section 4.

sch 2 def residential service ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

section 7(4) report means a report given under section 7(4) by a police officer to a coroner.

sch 2 def section 7(4) report ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

senior available next of kin see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 4(1).

sch 2 def senior available next of kin ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)

spouse ...

sch 2 def spouse om 2003 No. 97 s 380 sch 1

State employee, for part 4A, see section 91B.

sch 2 def State employee ins 2015 No. 18 s 6

stillborn child means a stillborn child as defined in the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2023.

sch 2 def stillborn child sub 2003 No. 31 s 59 sch 1

amd 2023 No. 17 s 162

tissue means—

(a)an organ, blood or part of a body or fetus; or

(b)a substance extracted from an organ, blood or part of a body or fetus.

tissue bank see the Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1979, section 42A(6).

sch 2 def tissue bank ins 2009 No. 32 s 60 (2)