More resources need to be provided to Tasmania’s coronial division, one of the state’s three coroners battling an “ever-increasing workload” says.
Magistrate Robert Webster recently published findings that outlined an extensive backlog of reportable unexpected, accidental and violent death investigations yet to be undertaken.
At the end of July, Webster said there were 964 pending cases, in excess of 320 per coroner, still to be looked at–many from deaths that occurred a number of years ago.
He said reportable deaths increased 54% to 895 in the six financial years to June 2023, compared to 579 at the end of the 2017 financial year.
“Despite that increase, in the 2022/2023 financial year, 943 matters were finalised,” Webster said.
“To be able to finalise that number of matters means each coroner is finalising in excess of one investigation each business day.”
This financial year, reportable deaths jumped to 1,142 and despite the addition of some investigative and office resources, Webster says there will continue to be lengthy delays in finalising matters.
“The same number of coroners are ultimately responsible for what seems to be an ever-increasing workload,” he says.
“This situation … can only be remedied by the provision of more resources.”
Earlier in the year, Coroner Simon Cooper warned that already held up investigations would be further set back by the introduction of ‘Jari’s Law’.
The amendment to the Coroners Act requires coroners to undertake inquests in deaths where family violence is thought to have been involved.
“The effect of this upon an already strained coronial system will be to significantly delay all inquests, thereby increasing the grief and trauma of many families in our community,” Cooper said.
