1 Name of Act
2 Commencement
3 (Repealed)
4 Definitions
Part 1A The offices of State Coroner and Deputy State Coroner
4A State Coroners and Deputy State Coroners
4B Vacation of office as State Coroner or Deputy State Coroner
4C Remuneration
4D Functions of the State Coroner
4E Delegation by State Coroner
4F Functions of Deputy State Coroner
4G Information to be given to State Coroner
Part 2 The offices of coroner and assistant coroner
5 Appointment of coroners
5A Assistant coroners
6 Age qualification for coroners and assistant coroners
6A Vacation of office of coroners and assistant coroners
7 Oath of allegiance for coroners and assistant coroners
8 All appointed coroners to have full jurisdiction
9 Functions of assistant coroners
10 Magistrates to have jurisdiction, powers and duties of coroners
11, 12 (Repealed)
12A Obligation to report death
12B Medical practitioner must not certify cause of death if death is reportable to a coroner
Part 3 Jurisdiction of coroners
Division 1 Cases in which inquest is to be held
13 Inquests into deaths or suspected deaths
13A Deaths in custody etc examinable only by State Coroner or Deputy State Coroner
13AB Child or disability deaths examinable only by State Coroner or Deputy State Coroner
13B No jurisdiction unless death occurred in last 100 years
13C Jurisdiction requires connection with New South Wales
Division 2 Cases in which inquest can be dispensed with
14 Coroner may dispense with inquest except in some cases
14A Minister or State Coroner may direct that inquest be held
14B General cases in which inquest required to be held
14C Deaths under anaesthetic—inquest required in certain cases
14D Reasons to be given for dispensing with inquest
14E Direction to hold inquest
14F Power to obtain documents etc
Division 3 Inquiries into fires and explosions
15 Inquiries into causes and origins of fires and explosions
15A Direction to hold inquiry
15B General inquiries concerning fires and explosions
16 Cases where a coroner is not bound to hold an inquest or inquiry
16A Notice of particulars of death to be given to Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Part 4 Inquests and inquiries generally
Division 1 Principal provisions
17 Time and place of inquest or inquiry
17A State Coroner may hold inquest etc
17B Directions by State Coroner
17C Directions to police by coroners
18 Inquests and inquiries with or without juries
19 Procedure at inquest or inquiry involving indictable offence
20 Procedure following suspension of inquest or inquiry under section 19
21 Procedure at inquest upon finding no death
22 Finding of coroner or verdict of jury to be recorded
22A Coroner or jury may make recommendations
23 Further inquest
23A Duty to hold fresh inquest or inquiry—new facts or evidence
Division 1A Coronial investigation scenes
23C Definitions
23D Order establishing coronial investigation scene
23E Establishment of a coronial investigation scene
23F Exercise of powers at coronial investigation scene
23G Coronial investigation scene powers
23H Obstruction or hindrance of person executing coronial investigation scene order
23I Division does not limit other powers
Division 2 Machinery provisions
24 Coroner’s right to possession of body
25 (Repealed)
26 Coroner who is medical practitioner not to hold certain inquests
27 Inquest or inquiry on Sunday
28 Place where inquest or inquiry before jury to be held
29 Coroner and jury not to view body or scene of fire or explosion
30 Place of inquest
31 Witnesses to be examined on oath
31A Persons granted leave may apply for witness to be examined
32 Representation at inquests or inquiries
33 Rules of procedure and evidence
33AA Privilege in respect of self-incrimination
33A Fresh inquest or inquiry—admission of previous depositions
34 Evidence
34A Documentary evidence
35 Subpoena for appearance or warrant for apprehension of witness
36 Form of subpoena
37 Manner of service of subpoena
38 Certain defects immaterial
39 Warrants for non-appearance in response to subpoena
40 Apprehension of witness under warrant
41 Form of warrant
42 Refusal of witness to be examined
43 Contempt
44 Power of coroner to clear court and prohibit publication of matter relating to inquest or inquiry
45 Offences
46 Meaning of “published” in sections 44 and 45
Part 5 Supreme Court’s powers relating to inquests and inquiries
47 Powers of Supreme Court to order inquest or inquiry
Part 6 Post mortem examinations, exhumations and special tests
47A Coronial Medical Officers
48 Post mortem or other examination may be ordered by coroner
48A Objection to post mortem examination by senior next of kin
48AA Retention and use of human tissue
48B Objection to post mortem examination by other persons
49 Additional medical evidence in certain cases
50 Medical witness neglecting to obey order
51 Copies of medical reports
52 Remuneration of medical practitioners
52A Protection for persons acting under coroner’s direction
53 Warrant for exhumation of body
53AA General
Part 6A Disposal of human remains
53A Unauthorised disposal of human remains
53B Order authorising the disposal of human remains
54 Penalty
54A Assistance to and from coroners in other jurisdictions
55 Deaths or suspected deaths in mines
56 Abolition of magisterial inquiries
57 Repeals and savings and transitional provisions
58 Regulations
Schedule 1 Special provisions—inquests concerning deaths or suspected deaths in mines