Coroner's Office

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question about the Coroner's Office.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: The devastated family of Steven Maple is seeking a comprehensive independent review investigation into his death amid accusations of egregious and incompetent conduct by Coroner's Office staff. The failures of police, the Coroner's Office and Forensics SA, together with allegations that Coroner's Office staff have lied to Steven Maple's family, have compounded their grief and must be investigated as a matter of extreme urgency.

Earlier this year, I spoke about Steven's botched case, but just to recap: he died on 16 November 2023 and it took more than nine months for his next of kin, his father, to be notified of his passing even though the authorities knew his identity all along. His family was first told by police that his remains had been buried, then they were told that the remains were in a morgue—17 months on they are still there. They were told they could not view the body because decomposition was so bad that the remains were mouldy and unidentifiable. They were told there were no photographs of Steven taken at the external examination.

This is an utter disgrace and an indictment of a department that is under the watch of the Attorney-General. Goodness knows how many other cases are affected or are being delayed by the dysfunction in there. The family has lost all trust in the Coroner's Office and the Public Trustee. They are demanding no less than an independent review of Steven's entire case, including a forensic examination, from the day his body was found to where his remains may or may not be today. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Will you now order an independent review of Steven's entire case to enable closure for his family?

2. Why is the Coroner's Office withholding information from the family?

3. Will you order full disclosure of the Coroner's Office documentation related to Steven Maple to be made to the family?

4. Are there any investigations being undertaken into the conduct of SAPOL staff assigned to the Coroner's Office?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:18): I thank the honourable member for his question. I am happy to refer much of what the honourable member has said to the Coroner so that the Coroner can have a look at the information the honourable member has provided in this chamber.

I do know that the work the Coroner and the Coroner's Office does is often very difficult, and a lot of the people who come into contact with the Coroner's Office are doing so at some of the most difficult and distressing times of their lives, having lost a loved one. We have provided further resources to the Coroner's Office in recent budgetary rounds, appointing a further ongoing Deputy Coroner to get onto the work of the Coroner's Office.

In relation to the Public Trustee, whom the honourable member mentioned as well, again, much of the work the Public Trustee does is difficult work, dealing with people and particularly clients who have either lost capacity or, if people have passed away, dealing with loved ones in very distressing circumstances. However, I will refer the comments that have been made today to the Coroner.