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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 823 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 August 2020 by Hon Peter Collier

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

CORONIAL INQUESTS — REQUESTS

823. Hon PETER COLLIER to the Leader of the House representing the Attorney General:

I ask this question on behalf of Hon Michael Mischin, who is on urgent parliamentary business.

I refer to the requests to the Attorney General to direct the State Coroner to hold inquests into the killing of the family of Aaron Cockman on 11 May 2018, first requested by Mr Cockman on 21 May 2020, and the suicide of school student Cohen Fink on 4 June 2019, first requested by his family on 21 February 2020. I ask the following questions in respect of each request.

(1) Will the Attorney General direct the coroner to hold an inquest?

(2) When did he so decide?

(3) Has he informed the applicants of his decision; and, if not, why not?

(4) Has he provided the applicants with detailed reasons for his decision; and, if so, when; and, if not, why not?

(5) If he has not yet decided whether to direct the coroner, why not and when will he do so?

(6) If he has not yet decided but is of a mind to refuse their request, will he let the applicants know in advance of deciding and give them the opportunity to persuade him to make a direction; and, if not, why not?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1) I have sought advice on both matters and am currently awaiting that advice.

(2) Not applicable. See response to (1).

(3)–(4) No. See response to (1).

(5) See response to (1). I will make a decision in each matter after receiving and considering the respective advice.

(6) The applicants have already provided arguments in support of making their respective requests. If the applicants have further information they wish to bring to the Attorney General's attention, they are welcome to do so.