South Australia
Coroners Act 1975
An Act to provide for the appointment of coroners and to confer on them powers to inquire and hold inquests into certain events; and for other purposes.
Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1Short title
5Certain rules excluded
6Interpretation
Part 2—Coroners
7Appointment of State Coroner
8Appointment of Deputy State Coroner
9State Coroner may delegate to Deputy State Coroner
10Absence from office of State Coroner
11Appointment of other coroners
Part 3—Inquests
12Jurisdiction
13Power of inquiry of coroners in relation to inquests
14Holding of inquests by coroners
15Restrictions upon medical practitioners
16Proceedings upon inquests
17View of body
18Inquests open to public
19Inquests to be held without juries
20Time and place for holding of inquests
21Right of appearance before coroner upon inquest
22Evidence and procedure upon inquests
23Taking of evidence other than at inquests
24Adjournment of inquests
25Findings of coroners upon inquests
26Inquests and other legal proceedings
27Returns by coroners
28Re-opening of inquest
28AApplication to set aside findings made at inquest
Part 4—Miscellaneous
28BInterpretation
29Order for removal of body for interstate inquest
30Authorisation for disposal of human remains
31Offence to fail to notify death
31ACoroner to make finding as to cause of death
31BInformation to be provided before disposal of remains
32Protection for coroner and persons acting in pursuance of Act
33Summary offences
34Moneys for the purposes of the Act
35Rules
Legislative history
Appendix—Divisional penalties and expiation fees
The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:
Part 1—Preliminary
1—Short title
This Act may be cited as the Coroners Act 1975.
5—Certain rules excluded
The practice and procedure to be followed by a coroner with respect to an inquest are to be as prescribed by this Act and the rules under this Act and any rules of practice or procedure with respect to an inquest arising at common law or by statute of the Imperial Parliament are hereby excluded.
6—Interpretation
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—
body in relation to a dead person means the whole, or any part, of the body, whatever its physical state may be;
coroner means—
(a)the State Coroner; or
(b)a Deputy State Coroner; or
(c)any other coroner,
appointed under Part 2;
Deputy State Coroner means a Deputy State Coroner appointed under Part 2;
legal practitioner means a legal practitioner within the meaning of the Legal Practitioners Act 1981;
medical practitioner means a legally qualified medical practitioner;
place includes premises or land;
the State Coroner means the State Coroner appointed under Part 2.
Note—
For definition of divisional penalties (and divisional expiation fees) see Appendix.
Part 2—Coroners
7—Appointment of State Coroner
(1)The Governor may appoint a legal practitioner to be the State Coroner.
(2)The State Coroner—
(a)is to hold office for a term, and upon conditions, determined by the Governor; and
(b)is to be paid a salary and allowances determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
8—Appointment of Deputy State Coroner
(1)The Governor may appoint a legal practitioner to be a Deputy State Coroner.
(2)A Deputy State Coroner—
(a)is to hold office for a term, and…