CORONER'S ANNUAL REPORT

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:51): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Attorney-General a question regarding the annual report of the State Coroner tabled just today.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: All over it; in fact, I have a copy here. I note that the report of the State Coroner has been tabled just a few moments ago by the minister in another place; as I said, I actually have a copy here. The interesting point is that Family First has it on good authority that the report was actually given to the government back on 31 October. That aside, the 2008-09 report—that is, the previous report—noted some worrying issues regarding an intractable backlog of cases before the Coroner. The report noted that, as at 30 June 2009, there were some 32 outstanding inquests, including two dating back to 2005, four from 2006, and 18 from 2008. In the preface to the 2008-09 report the Coroner noted:

…such lengthy timeframes cause me much concern. I am aware that the timeframes cause families heartache, and at times, hardship. I regret that the timeframes contribute to a family's grief and anxiety. With current resources and planned budget cuts I cannot see the timeframes improving in the near future. In fact, the reverse is likely to occur.

Looking at the current report that has just been tabled, it tells a story that I think most people would have expected of a Coroner's Court seriously backlogged and getting worse. Indeed, a paragraph on page 14 of today's report indicates that there are now some 39 inquests awaiting hearing, up from 32 in the last financial year. The Coroner notes, 'This is a sharp increase in the category of deaths awaiting inquests compared to the previous year.' My questions are:

1. Does the Attorney accept that the case backlog in the Coroner's office is getting intractably worse, that it is indeed very serious, and that it does add to the grief and anxiety of families already suffering from heartache, as the Coroner has indicated?

2. What does the Attorney plan to do to deal with this very serious problem?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister Assisting the Premier in Public Sector Management) (14:54): I thank the honourable member for his questions and compliment him on his diligence in reading the report so quickly. I will refer those important questions to the Attorney-General in another place and bring back a reply.