Coroners Act 2009 (NSW)

Coroners Act 2009 No 41

An Act to provide for the appointment and functions of coroners and assistant coroners; to repeal the Coroners Act 1980; and for other purposes.

Chapter 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act This Act is the Coroners Act 2009.

2 Commencement (1) This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation, except as provided by subsections (2) and (3). (2) Schedule 3.4[1] commences— (a) if Schedule 1.3[4] to the Children Legislation Amendment (Wood Inquiry Recommendations) Act 2009 commences on or before the date of assent to this Act—on the date of assent to this Act, or (b) if Schedule 1.3[4] to the Children Legislation Amendment (Wood Inquiry Recommendations) Act 2009 commences after the date of assent to this Act—on the day on which Schedule 1.3[4] to that Act commences. (3) Schedule 3.4[2]–[4] commence— (a) if the Local Courts Act 1982 is repealed on or before the date of assent to this Act—on the date of assent to this Act, or (b) if the Local Courts Act 1982 is repealed after the date of assent to this Act—on the day on which the Local Courts Act 1982 is repealed.

3 Objects of Act The objects of this Act are as follows— (a) to provide for the appointment of coronial officers, (b) to provide that Magistrates are coroners by virtue of office, (c) to enable coroners to investigate certain kinds of deaths or suspected deaths in order to determine the identities of the deceased persons, the times and dates of their deaths and the manner and cause of their deaths, (d) to enable coroners to investigate fires and explosions that destroy or damage property within the State in order to determine the causes and origins of (and in some cases, the general circumstances concerning) such fires and explosions, (e) to enable coroners to make recommendations in relation to matters in connection with an inquest or inquiry (including recommendations concerning public health and safety and the investigation or review of matters by persons or bodies), (f) to provide for certain kinds of deaths or suspected deaths to be reported and to prevent death certificates being issued in relation to certain reportable deaths, (g) to prohibit the disposal of human remains without appropriate authority.