Version No. 043
Coroners Act 2008
No. 77 of 2008
Version incorporating amendments as at
1 July 2025
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Section Page
Part 1—Preliminary
1Purposes
2Commencement
3Definitions
4Reportable death
5Reviewable death
Part 2—Objectives
6Role of objectives
7Avoiding unnecessary duplication
8Factors to consider for the purposes of this Act
9Fairness and efficiency of coronial system
Part 3—Reporting of deaths
10Obligation of registered medical practitioner to report death
11Obligation to report death of a person placed in custody or care
12General obligation to report death
13Obligation to report reviewable death
Part 4—Investigation of deaths and fires
Division 1—Investigation of deaths
14Deaths a coroner may investigate
15Deaths a coroner must investigate
15APower to direct coronial investigator
16Determination by coroner that reported death not a reportable death
16AInvestigations and Aboriginal ancestral remains
17Certain reportable deaths do not require investigation
18Reviewable deaths may be referred to the Institute
19State Coroner may investigate a reviewable death
20Determination by State Coroner that death not a reviewable death
21Providing relevant persons with coronial process information
22Control of the body
23Preliminary examinations
24Identification directions
25Autopsies
26Objections to autopsy
27Request for autopsy
28The removal of tissue and preserving material
29Provision of relevant information by principal registrar
29APrincipal registrar to provide certain information to VIFM
Division 2—Investigation of fires
30Fire authority request for fire investigation
31Application for investigation into a fire
Division 3—Assistance to coroner in investigation
32Person who made report of death to assist
33Registered medical practitioner to assist
34Person who asks for investigation of fire to assist
35Fire authority to assist
36Assistance from police
Division 4—Powers relating to investigation
37Restriction of access to place where death occurred or caused or may occur
38Restriction of access to fire area
39Powers of entry, search, inspection and possession
40Power to direct person to produce documents, operate equipment on entry
41Other powers on entry to premises
42Documents and prepared statements required by coroner
42APrivileges in relation to investigations
Division 5—Exhumation
43Application for exhumation
44Power to authorise exhumation
45Notice of intention to authorise exhumation
46Authorisation of exhumation
Division 6—General
47Release of body
48Application to coroner for release of body
49Notices and provision of information by principal registrar
50Protection against self-incrimination
51Aid to coroners in other places
Part 5—Inquests into deaths and fires
Division 1—Types of inquests
52Inquest into a death
53Inquest into a fire
54Inquest into multiple deaths and fires
Division 2—Powers of coroners at inquests
55Coroners' powers at inquests
56Interested party
57Privilege in respect of self-incrimination in other proceedings
58Privileges in relation to inquests
59Issue of warrant to arrest
60Coroner may be assisted
Division 3—Process at inquest
61Advertisement of an inquest
62Coroner not bound by rules of evidence
63Record of evidence
64Witnesses to be called and relevant issues
65Inquest to be conducted with little formality
66Rights of interested parties
Part 6—Findings, recommendations and referrals
67Findings of coroner investigating a death
68Findings of coroner investigating a fire
69Findings not to contain statement regarding guilt
70Apology or reduction or waiver of fees
71Findings not required if inquest not held or discontinued
72Reports and recommendations