Coroners Act 2003 (Qld)

Coroners Act 2003

An Act to provide for a coronial system, and for other purposes

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Coroners Act 2003.

2 Commencement (1) The amendment of the District Court of Queensland Act 1967 in schedule 1 commences on 1 May 2003. (2) The remaining provisions commence on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3 Object of Act The object of this Act is to— (a) establish the position of the State Coroner; and (b) require the reporting of particular deaths; and (c) establish the procedures for investigations, including by holding inquests, by coroners into particular deaths; and (d) help to prevent deaths from similar causes happening in the future by allowing coroners at inquests to comment on matters connected with deaths, including matters related to— (i) public health or safety; or (ii) the administration of justice; and (e) establish the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board to review deaths related to domestic and family violence to prevent or reduce the likelihood of those deaths.

4 Act binds all persons This Act binds all persons, including the State and, so far as the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Commonwealth and the other States.

5 Relationship with other Acts (1) This Act is subject to the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950, section 4A. (2) This Act does not limit or otherwise affect the functions or powers of— (a) a police officer or other person to investigate a death under another Act; or (b) a police officer to do something other than an investigation under this Act. Example— A police officer helping a coroner to investigate a death may at the same time investigate whether the death was a homicide.