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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 670 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 August 2022 by Hon Nick Goiran

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONERS ACT — STATUTORY REVIEW REPORT

670. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General:

I refer to the findings of the Statutory review of the Coroners Act 1996 (WA): Final report tabled in July 2021.

(1) Has the next recurrent review of the act commenced?

(2) When is the next review of the act expected to be completed?

(3) Are post-mortem examination reports routinely being provided to hospitals?

(4) If no to (3), when did this cease and when was the Attorney General first made aware of this decision?

(5) Further to (4), why did this cease and which stakeholders were consulted in relation to this decision?

Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:

I thank the member for some notice of the question. I provide the following answer based on information provided to me by the Attorney General.

(1) No.

(2) As soon as practicable, taking into account various factors, including, but not limited to, government priorities and resources, consideration and possible implementation of any prior review recommendations, and the time period that has elapsed since the last review was completed.

(3) Not at present.

(4) The practice ceased in December 2020 after an instruction issued by the State Coroner. The Attorney General is unaware of the precise date, but he was aware by May 2021. He supports legislative change to the Coroners Act 1996 in order for post-mortem reports to be provided to hospitals or medical services, without the informed consent of the senior next of kin, to enable clinicians to better understand the circumstances leading to their patient's death. The Attorney General intends to bring the legislative provisions addressing this issue to Parliament.

(5) The reasons for the decision and any consultation are a matter for the State Coroner. However, the Attorney General is advised that the State Coroner issued the instruction after obtaining legal advice.