Coroners Act 1980 (NSW)

Australian law has the same meaning as it has in the Evidence Act 1995.

civil penalty has the same meaning as it has in the Evidence Act 1995.

inquest means an inquest concerning the death or suspected death of a person.

inquiry means an inquiry concerning a fire or explosion.

place includes any land, building, mine, ship, vehicle or aircraft or any other vessel or vehicle.

regulations means regulations under this Act.

relative, in relation to a person who has or is suspected to have died means:

• (a)

  the spouse of that person, a parent of that person, a person who stands in loco parentis to that person, a guardian of that person or a child of that person, or

• (b)

  (Repealed)

• (c)

  if there is no relative, as defined in paragraph (a), of that person, a brother or sister of that person,

who has attained the age of 18 years.

senior next of kin of a deceased person means:

• (a)

  the deceased person’s spouse, or

• (b)

  if the deceased person did not have a spouse or a spouse is not available—any of the deceased person’s sons or daughters who are of or above the age of 18 years, or

• (c)

  if the deceased person did not have a spouse, son or daughter or a spouse, son or daughter is not available—either of the deceased person’s parents, or

• (d)

  if the deceased person did not have a spouse, son, daughter or living parent or a spouse, son, daughter or parent is not available—any of the deceased person’s brothers or sisters who are of or above the age of 18 years, or

• (e)

  if the deceased person did not have a spouse, son, daughter, living parent, brother or sister or a spouse, son, daughter, parent, brother or sister is not available:

  • (i)

    any person who is named as an executor in the deceased person’s will, or

  • (ii)

    any person who was the deceased person’s personal representative immediately before the deceased person’s death.

spouse means:

• (a)

  a husband or wife, or

• (b)

  the other party to a de facto relationship within the meaning of the Property (Relationships) Act 1984,

but where more than one person would so qualify as a spouse, means only the…