PERTH CHILDREN'S
HOSPITAL — AISHWARYA ASWATH
62. Hon
MICHAEL MISCHIN to the parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney
General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
answers to questions without notice 38 and 39 of 5 May 2021 asked in the
Legislative Assembly by the member for Vasse regarding the Attorney General's
power under section 22 of the Coroner's Act 1996 to direct that a coroner's
inquest be held into the death of Aishwarya Aswath.
(1) Why can the Attorney General
not direct the coroner to hold an inquest ''at this stage''?
(2) At what stage will the Attorney
General be able to direct the coroner to hold an inquest?
(3) At what point will it be too
late for the Attorney General to direct an inquest?
(4) Will the Attorney General
direct the coroner to hold an inquest; and, if so, when will he do so?
(5) If the Attorney General will
not direct the coroner to hold an inquest, why will he not do so?
(6) Is it the Attorney General's intention to
leave it to Aishwarya's bereaved parents to apply to the Supreme Court
for a coroner's inquest to be held, if they can afford the cost, time
and uncertainty of doing so?
Hon
MATTHEW SWINBOURN replied:
I thank the
member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(6) The Attorney General is seeking advice and will
answer the questions when Parliament reconvenes next week.