Royal Adelaide Hospital Construction Site Incidents

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:06): A supplementary: given the Attorney's indication that he will not direct the Coroner, has he made any inquiry of the Coroner as to whether he intends to progress to have an inquest in relation to these deaths?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (15:06): Again, I thank the honourable member for her question. As I have tried to indicate, I take the view that the Coroner is the person best placed to work out, amongst all the matters that come to his attention, which ones should be dealt with and in what order or priority they should be dealt with. I don't make it my practice to inquire of the Coroner about particular matters, and this case is no exception.

Having said that, I have never had the view—and have no reason to have the view—that the Coroner doesn't give due consideration to matters that are brought to his attention. My observation of what the Coroner has done over many years is that where there are matters, particularly ones of public concern, his tendency is to have a good look at them. Ultimately, that is a matter for the Coroner.