{"id":"coroners-act-1993","name":"Coroners Act 1993","slug":"coroners-act-1993","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"nt","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29966,"registerId":"nt-coroners-act-1993-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Coroners Act 1993","content":"NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\nCORONERS ACT 1993\nAs in force at 28 November 2022\nTable of provisions\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1\n2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1\n3 Definitions ........................................................................................ 1\nPart 2 Coroners\n4 Coroners .......................................................................................... 2\n4A Functions of Territory Coroner......................................................... 3\n4B Acting Territory Coroner .................................................................. 3\n5 Deputy coroners .............................................................................. 3\n6 Jurisdiction of coroners and deputy coroners .................................. 4\n7 Protection of coroner ....................................................................... 4\n8 Delegation ....................................................................................... 5\n9 Appointment of coroner's clerk ........................................................ 5\n10 Functions and powers of coroners' clerks ....................................... 5\n11 Records of findings etc. ................................................................... 5\n11A Records and exhibits ....................................................................... 5\nPart 3 Reporting deaths\n12 Obligation to report deaths .............................................................. 6\n13 Information to coroner ..................................................................... 8\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\n14 Coroners' jurisdiction to investigate deaths ..................................... 8\n15 Coroners' jurisdiction to hold inquest into death .............................. 9\n16 Decision not to hold inquest to be notified ....................................... 9\n17 Control of body pending certificate permitting disposal ................. 10\n18 Aid to coroners in other places ...................................................... 10\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\n19 Powers of entry etc. ....................................................................... 10\n20 Autopsies ....................................................................................... 11\n21 Application for autopsy .................................................................. 11\n22 Senior next of kin of deceased to be notified ................................ 12\n\nCoroners Act 1993 ii\n23 Objections to autopsy .................................................................... 12\n24 Exhumation ................................................................................... 12\nDivision 3 Deaths in custody\n25 Coroner may give directions to police............................................ 13\n26 Report on additional matters by coroner ....................................... 13\n27 Coroner to send report etc. to Attorney-General ........................... 13\nPart 5 Investigation of disasters\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\n28 Coroners' jurisdiction to investigate disasters ................................ 14\n29 Referral by Attorney-General for investigation............................... 14\n30 Jurisdiction to hold inquest into disaster ........................................ 14\n31 Police to report to Coroner ............................................................ 14\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\n32 Restriction of access to disaster area ............................................ 14\n33 Powers of entry for disaster ........................................................... 14\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths\nand disasters\n34 Coroners' findings and comments ................................................. 15\n35 Coroners' reports ........................................................................... 16\n36 Compliance with coroner's direction .............................................. 16\n37 Advertisement of inquest ............................................................... 17\n38 Statements made by witnesses ..................................................... 17\n39 Rules of evidence not binding ....................................................... 17\n40 Rights of interested persons .......................................................... 17\n41 Coroner's powers at inquest .......................................................... 18\n42 Exclusion from inquest .................................................................. 18\n43 Restriction on publication of reports .............................................. 19\n44 Orders by Supreme Court to hold new inquest and re-open\ninquest ........................................................................................... 19\n44A Coroner may re-open inquest ........................................................ 20\n45 Coroner not to be called as witness .............................................. 20\n46 Contempt ....................................................................................... 21\nPart 7 Miscellaneous matters\n46A Reports etc. under section 27 or 35 to be forwarded to\nAgencies etc. ................................................................................. 21\n46B Response to reports ...................................................................... 21\n47 Regulations.................................................................................... 22\n48 Repeal ........................................................................................... 23\n\nCoroners Act 1993 iii\n49 Transitional .................................................................................... 23\nSchedule 1\nSchedule 2 Repealed Acts\nENDNOTES\n\n\n\nNORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA\n____________________\nAs in force at 28 November 2022\n____________________\nCORONERS ACT 1993\nAn Act to provide for the office of coroner, the holding of inquests into\nthe manner and cause of deaths, inquiring into the cause and origin of\ndisasters and for related purposes\nPart 1 Preliminary matters\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Coroners Act 1993.\n2 Commencement\nThis Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the\nAdministrator by notice in the Gazette.\n3 Definitions\nIn this Act:\nAttorney-General means the Minister responsible for the Agency\nadministering this Act.\nChief Executive Officer, see section 3(1) of the Public Sector\nEmployment and Management Act 1993.\ncoroner includes a deputy coroner.\ndeath includes suspected death.\ndisaster means an occurrence due to natural or other causes that:\n(a) causes or threatens to cause:\n(i) substantial loss of life or property; or\n(ii) substantial injury to persons or property; or\n(b) in any way substantially endangers the safety of the public in\nany part of the Territory.\n\nPart 2 Coroners\nCoroners Act 1993 2\ndisposal, in relation to a body, includes burial, cremation and any\nother process for the disposal of human remains under the Burial\nand Cremation Act 2022.\ninvestigation includes an inquest.\nmarried includes being in a de facto relationship.\nperson held in care, see section 12(1).\nperson held in custody, see section 12(1).\nreportable death means a death mentioned in section 12(1).\nsenior next of kin, in relation to a deceased person, means:\n(a) where a person was, immediately before death, married – the\nperson's spouse; or\n(b) where the person was not, immediately before death, married\nor, if married, the spouse is not available – the person's son or\ndaughter of or over 18 years; or\n(c) where a spouse, son or daughter is not available – the\nperson's parent; or\n(d) where a spouse, son, daughter or parent is not available – the\nperson's brother or sister of or over 18 years; or\n(e) where a person is an Aborigine – a person who, according to\nthe customs and tradition of the community or group to which\nthe person belongs, is an appropriate person; or\n(f) where paragraphs (a) to (e) do not apply or a person who\nwould be the senior next of kin under those paragraphs is not\navailable – a person who immediately before the death of the\ndeceased person had a relationship with the deceased person\nthat, in the opinion of the coroner, is sufficient for the purpose\nof being the senior next of kin.\nspouse includes a person's de facto partner.\nPart 2 Coroners\n4 Coroners\n(1) There is an office of coroner.\n\nPart 2 Coroners\nCoroners Act 1993 3\n(2) The Administrator may appoint a Local Court Judge to be the\nTerritory Coroner.\n(3) A person who is a Local Court Judge is a coroner.\n4A Functions of Territory Coroner\n(1) The functions of the Territory Coroner are to:\n(a) ensure that the coronial system in the Territory is\nadministered and operates efficiently; and\n(b) oversee and co-ordinate coronial services in the Territory; and\n(c) ensure that all reportable deaths reported to a coroner are\ninvestigated; and\n(d) ensure that an inquest into a death is held where there is a\nduty to do so under this Act or where it is desirable that an\ninquest be held.\n(2) The Territory Coroner has the power to do all things necessary and\nconvenient to be done for or incidental to the performance of his or\nher functions.\n4B Acting Territory Coroner\n(1) The Administrator may, in writing, appoint a Local Court Judge to\nact in the office of the Territory Coroner:\n(a) during a vacancy in the office; or\n(b) during any period, or all periods, when the person holding the\noffice is absent from duty or unable to perform the duties of\nthe office.\n(2) A person appointed under subsection (1) holds office until:\n(a) the expiry of the period (not exceeding 12 months) specified in\nthe appointment; or\n(b) the person ceases to be a Local Court Judge.\n(3) An acting Territory Coroner has all the functions and powers of the\nTerritory Coroner.\n5 Deputy coroners\n(1) The Administrator may appoint a person to be a deputy coroner.\n\nPart 2 Coroners\nCoroners Act 1993 4\n(2) An appointment under subsection (1) may be:\n(a) limited in duration; or\n(b) subject to terms and conditions; or\n(c) terminated at any time.\n(3) A deputy coroner must take an oath of office in accordance with\nSchedule 1 before proceeding to exercise the powers or discharge\nthe duties of office.\n(4) A deputy coroner may resign by notice in writing given to the\nAttorney-General.\n6 Jurisdiction of coroners and deputy coroners\n(1) A coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death or disaster, or to\nhold an inquest into a death or disaster, in accordance with this Act.\n(2) A coroner has:\n(a) jurisdiction conferred by any other Act; and\n(b) jurisdiction and power conferred by the common law.\n(3) Subject to subsection (4) and a limitation or condition mentioned in\nsection 5(2), a deputy coroner has the same jurisdiction, powers\nand duties as a coroner.\n(4) A deputy coroner must not conduct an inquest into:\n(a) the death of a person:\n(i) held in custody; or\n(ii) caused or contributed to by injuries sustained while the\nperson was held in custody; or\n(iii) held in care; or\n(b) a suspected unlawful killing.\n7 Protection of coroner\nA person exercising the jurisdiction of a coroner has the same\nprotection and immunity as a Local Court Judge has in the\nperformance of his or her duties as a Local Court Judge.\n\nPart 2 Coroners\nCoroners Act 1993 5\n8 Delegation\nA coroner may, by instrument in writing, delegate to a coroner's\nclerk any of his or her powers and functions under this Act other\nthan the power to conduct an inquest and this power of delegation.\n9 Appointment of coroner's clerk\n(1) A coroner may appoint a person to be a coroner's clerk.\n(2) A registrar of the Local Court may act as a coroner's clerk.\n10 Functions and powers of coroners' clerks\n(1) The function of the coroner's clerk is to assist a coroner to exercise\nhis or her jurisdiction.\n(2) A coroner's clerk may:\n(a) on behalf of a coroner, receive information about a death or\ndisaster; and\n(b) witness an affidavit; and\n(c) issue a summons requiring a witness to attend an inquest to\ngive oral evidence or to produce documents.\n11 Records of findings etc.\n(1) A coroner or a coroner's clerk must keep a record of findings,\nevidence and comments in relation to each investigation into a\ndeath or disaster.\n(2) A record mentioned in subsection (1) is not admissible as evidence\nof a matter contained in it.\n11A Records and exhibits\nPart 4, Division 2 of the Local Court Act 2015 applies to a coroner\nas if:\n(a) a reference to the principal registrar were a reference to the\ncoroner's clerk; and\n(b) a reference to proceedings in the Local Court were a\nreference to an investigation conducted by a coroner.\n\nPart 3 Reporting deaths\nCoroners Act 1993 6\nPart 3 Reporting deaths\n12 Obligation to report deaths\n(1) In this section:\nperson held in care means:\n(a) a child who is in the CEO's care as defined in the Care and\nProtection of Children Act 2007; or\n(b) a patient who, under the Mental Health and Related Services\nAct 1998 is in custody whether in a hospital or temporarily\nremoved from a hospital.\nperson held in custody means:\n(a) a person in the custody or control of:\n(i) a police officer; or\n(ii) a member of the Police Force of a State or another\nTerritory of the Commonwealth or of the Australian\nFederal Police; or\n(iii) the Commissioner of Correctional Services; or\n(iv) a sheriff appointed under the Sheriff Act 1962; or\n(b) a person detained in:\n(i) a custodial correctional facility (as defined in\nsection 11(1)(a) of the Correctional Services Act 2014);\nor\n(ii) a detention centre approved under the Youth Justice\nAct 2005;\nand includes a person in the process of being taken into or\nescaping from:\n(c) the custody or control of a person mentioned in paragraph (a);\nor\n(d) detention in a place mentioned in paragraph (b).\n\nPart 3 Reporting deaths\nCoroners Act 1993 7\nreportable death means:\n(a) a death where:\n(i) the body of a deceased person is in the Territory; or\n(ii) the death occurred in the Territory; or\n(iii) the cause of the death occurred in the Territory;\nbeing a death:\n(iv) that appears to have been unexpected, unnatural or\nviolent or to have resulted, directly or indirectly, from an\naccident or injury; or\n(v) that occurred during an anaesthetic; or\n(vi) that occurred as a result of an anaesthetic and is not\ndue to natural causes; or\n(vii) of a person who, immediately before death, was a\nperson held in care or custody; or\n(viii) that was caused or contributed to by injuries sustained\nwhile the person was held in custody; or\n(ix) of a person whose identity is unknown; or\n(b) the death of a person who ordinarily resided in the Territory at\nthe time of death that occurred at a place outside the Territory\nwhere the cause of death is not certified by a person who,\nunder a law in force in the place, is a legally qualified medical\npractitioner.\n(1A) For the definition of person held in custody in subsection (1), a\nperson is also taken to be held in custody if he or she:\n(a) is detained anywhere in the Territory by a person authorised\nto do so under any Act or law in force in the Territory,\nincluding a law of the Commonwealth; or\n(b) is in the process of escaping from detention mentioned in\nparagraph (a).\n(2) A person who has reasonable grounds to believe that a reportable\ndeath has not been reported must report the death as soon as\npossible to a coroner or police officer.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units.\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\nCoroners Act 1993 8\n(3) A medical practitioner who is present at or after the death of a\nperson must report the death as soon as possible to a coroner if:\n(a) the death is a reportable death; or\n(b) the medical practitioner does not view the body of the\ndeceased person; or\n(c) the medical practitioner is unable to determine the cause of\ndeath.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units.\n(4) If more than one medical practitioner is present at or after a death\nand one of them reports it to a coroner, the other medical\npractitioners need not report the death but must give to the coroner\ninvestigating the death any information that may help the\ninvestigation.\n(5) The death of a person held in care or custody immediately before\ndeath must be reported to a coroner as soon as possible by the\nperson under whose care or in whose custody the deceased\nperson was held.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units.\n13 Information to coroner\n(1) A person who reports a death must give to the coroner investigating\nthe death any information that may help the investigation.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units.\n(2) A police officer who has information relevant to an investigation\nmust report it to the coroner investigating the death.\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\n14 Coroners' jurisdiction to investigate deaths\n(1) A coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death if it appears to the\ncoroner that the death is or may be a reportable death.\n(2) A coroner to whom a death is reported must, if it appears to the\ncoroner that the death is or may be a reportable death, investigate\nit.\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\nCoroners Act 1993 9\n(3) A coroner need not investigate a death if an investigation or inquest\nis held in a State or another Territory.\n(4) A coroner may direct that more than one death be investigated at\none inquest.\n15 Coroners' jurisdiction to hold inquest into death\n(1) Where a coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death and either\nthe body of the deceased person is in the Territory or it appears to\nthe coroner that the death or the cause of the death occurred in the\nTerritory, the coroner must hold an inquest if:\n(a) the deceased was, immediately before death, a person held in\ncare and custody; or\n(b) the death was caused or contributed to by injuries sustained\nwhile the deceased was held in custody; or\n(c) the identity of the deceased is not known.\n(1A) Where a coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death, the coroner\nmay, if he or she thinks fit, hold an inquest if:\n(a) the body of the deceased person is in the Territory or it\nappears to the coroner that the death, or the cause of death,\noccurred in the Territory; and\n(b) the coroner suspects unlawful killing.\n(2) A coroner who has jurisdiction to investigate a death may hold an\ninquest as the coroner thinks fit.\n(3) A coroner who has jurisdiction to investigate a death may hold an\ninquest even if:\n(a) the body of the deceased person is not in the Territory or is in\na place from which it cannot be recovered or has been\ndestroyed; or\n(b) the cause of death occurred outside the Territory.\n16 Decision not to hold inquest to be notified\n(1) Where a coroner who has jurisdiction to hold an inquest into a\ndeath makes a decision not to hold an inquest, the coroner:\n(a) must record the decision in writing; and\n(b) must specify the reasons for the decision; and\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\nCoroners Act 1993 10\n(c) as soon as practicable after making the decision:\n(i) must notify the senior next of kin of the deceased\nperson; and\n(ii) may notify any person;\nof the decision, in writing, including the reasons for the\ndecision.\n(2) Within 14 days after receiving notice of the decision mentioned in\nsubsection (1)(b), the person may apply to the Supreme Court for\nan order that an inquest be held.\n(3) The Supreme Court may if it thinks fit, make an order that an\ninquest be held.\n17 Control of body pending certificate permitting disposal\n(1) Where a reportable death has occurred and the body of a\ndeceased person is in the Territory, the body is under the control of\nthe coroner investigating the death until the coroner or coroner's\nclerk has issued a certificate permitting its disposal.\n(2) Where the Supreme Court makes an order under section 16(3), a\ncoroner or coroner's clerk must not issue a certificate mentioned in\nsubsection (1).\n18 Aid to coroners in other places\nA coroner may use his or her powers under this Act to help a\ncoroner of a State or of another Territory of the Commonwealth to\ninvestigate a death.\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\n19 Powers of entry etc.\n(1) A coroner who has jurisdiction to investigate a death may, with\nsuch assistance as the coroner thinks fit:\n(a) enter, if necessary with such force as is reasonable, and\ninspect a place and anything in it; and\n(b) take a copy of a document relevant to an investigation; and\n(c) take possession of a thing that the coroner reasonably\nbelieves is relevant to an investigation and keep it until the\ninvestigation is finished.\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\nCoroners Act 1993 11\n(2) A coroner may, in writing, authorise a police officer, at or between\nspecified times or during a specified period, to do one or more of\nthe following:\n(a) enter, if necessary with such force as is reasonable, a\nspecified place;\n(b) inspect a specified place and any thing in it;\n(c) take a copy of specified documents or classes of documents;\n(d) take possession of specified things or classes of things.\n(3) A police officer must, on request, produce a copy of the authority\nmentioned in subsection (2) to the owner or occupier of the place or\nthe person in possession of the document or thing inspected,\ncopied or taken.\n(4) A coroner may release a thing kept under subsection (2)(d) and\nmay require a person to whom the thing is released to give an\nundertaking to comply with a reasonable condition of release and\nthe person must comply with the undertaking.\nMaximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:\n40 penalty units.\n20 Autopsies\n(1) If a coroner reasonably believes that it is necessary for an\ninvestigation of a death, the coroner may direct a medical\npractitioner to perform an autopsy on the body of the deceased\nperson.\n(2) A medical practitioner performing an autopsy may cause to be\npreserved any material that appears to the coroner or the medical\npractitioner to bear on the cause of death.\n21 Application for autopsy\n(1) If a coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a death, a person may\nask a coroner to direct that an autopsy be performed on the body of\nthe deceased person.\n(2) If a coroner refuses a person's request under subsection (1), the\ncoroner must immediately give to the person notice in writing\nincluding reasons for the refusal.\n(3) Within 48 hours after a person receives a notice of refusal\nmentioned in subsection (2), the person may apply to the Supreme\nCourt for an order for an autopsy.\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\nCoroners Act 1993 12\n(4) The Supreme Court may, if it thinks fit, make an order:\n(a) directing the coroner to require a medical practitioner to\nperform an autopsy; and\n(b) prohibiting disposal of the body of the deceased person until\nthe coroner has the results of the autopsy and has ordered its\ndisposal.\n22 Senior next of kin of deceased to be notified\nWhere the coroner directs a medical practitioner to perform an\nautopsy on a deceased person who was a person held in custody,\nthe coroner must take reasonable steps to advise the senior next of\nkin of the deceased person of the direction.\n23 Objections to autopsy\n(1) Where the senior next of kin of the deceased person asks a\ncoroner not to direct that an autopsy be performed but the coroner\ndecides that an autopsy is necessary, the coroner must\nimmediately give notice in writing of the decision to the senior next\nof kin.\n(2) Unless the coroner believes that an autopsy needs to be performed\nimmediately, where a request has been made under subsection (1),\nan autopsy must not be performed until 48 hours after the senior\nnext of kin of the deceased person has been given notice of the\ncoroner's decision under that subsection.\n(3) Within 48 hours after receiving notice of the coroner's decision\nunder subsection (1), the senior next of kin of the deceased person\nmay apply to the Supreme Court for an order that an autopsy not\nbe performed and the Court, in its discretion, may make an order\nthat no autopsy be performed.\n24 Exhumation\n(1) The coroner may order that the body of a deceased person be\nexhumed if the coroner reasonably believes that it is necessary for\nan investigation of a death.\n(2) The coroner must ensure that at least 48 hours notice in writing is\ngiven to the senior next of kin of the deceased person and to the\nresponsible entity for the cemetery, representative for the burial\nground or each interest holder for the place of burial where the\nbody of the deceased person is buried before the body is exhumed\nunless the coroner is satisfied it is not possible to give the notice.\n\nPart 4 Investigation of deaths\nDivision 3 Deaths in custody\nCoroners Act 1993 13\n(3) If the senior next of kin of the deceased person asks the coroner\nnot to exhume the body of the deceased person, the body must not\nbe exhumed until 48 hours after the request has been made.\n(4) Within 48 hours after receiving notice of the order under\nsubsection (2), the senior next of kin of the deceased person may\napply to the Supreme Court for an order that the body of the\ndeceased person not be exhumed and the Supreme Court may, in\nits discretion, make an order that the body not be exhumed.\nDivision 3 Deaths in custody\n25 Coroner may give directions to police\n(1) A coroner may give directions to a police officer for the purpose of\ninvestigating the death of a person held in custody or caused or\ncontributed to by injuries sustained while being held in custody.\n(2) A police officer must not refuse or fail to comply with a lawful\ndirection by a coroner given under subsection (1).\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units or imprisonment for\n6 months.\n26 Report on additional matters by coroner\n(1) Where a coroner holds an inquest into the death of a person held in\ncustody or caused or contributed to by injuries sustained while\nbeing held in custody, the coroner:\n(a) must investigate and report on the care, supervision and\ntreatment of the person while being held in custody or caused\nor contributed to by injuries sustained while being held in\ncustody; and\n(b) may investigate and report on a matter connected with public\nhealth or safety or the administration of justice that is relevant\nto the death.\n(2) A coroner who holds an inquest into the death of a person held in\ncustody or caused or contributed to by injuries sustained while\nbeing held in custody must make such recommendations with\nrespect to the prevention of future deaths in similar circumstances\nas the coroner considers to be relevant.\n27 Coroner to send report etc. to Attorney-General\nThe coroner must cause a copy of each report and\nrecommendation made under section 26 to be sent without delay to\nthe Attorney-General.\n\nPart 5 Investigation of disasters\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\nCoroners Act 1993 14\nPart 5 Investigation of disasters\nDivision 1 Coroners' general powers and duties\n28 Coroners' jurisdiction to investigate disasters\nA coroner has jurisdiction to investigate a disaster if it occurred in or\npartly in the Territory.\n29 Referral by Attorney-General for investigation\nThe Attorney-General may refer a disaster to the Coroner and the\nCoroner must carry out an investigation into the disaster.\n30 Jurisdiction to hold inquest into disaster\nA coroner who has jurisdiction to investigate a disaster may, if the\ncoroner thinks fit, hold an inquest.\n31 Police to report to Coroner\nA police officer who has information relevant to an investigation of a\ndisaster must report it to the coroner investigating the disaster.\nDivision 2 Coroners' powers of investigation\n32 Restriction of access to disaster area\n(1) A coroner investigating a disaster may take reasonable steps to\nrestrict access to the place where the disaster occurred and for that\npurpose may cause a prescribed notice to be put up at the place.\n(2) A person must not, without good reason, enter or interfere with an\narea to which access is restricted under subsection (1).\nMaximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:\n40 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.\n33 Powers of entry for disaster\n(1) A coroner who has jurisdiction to investigate a disaster may, with\nsuch assistance as the coroner thinks fit:\n(a) enter, if necessary with such force as is reasonable, and\ninspect a place and a thing in it; and\n(b) take a copy of a document relevant to the investigation; and\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 15\n(c) take possession of a thing that the coroner reasonably\nbelieves is relevant to the investigation and keep it until the\ninvestigation is finished.\n(2) A coroner may, in writing, authorise a police officer, at or between\nspecified times during a specified period, to do one or more of the\nfollowing:\n(a) enter, if necessary with such force as is reasonable, a\nspecified place;\n(b) inspect a specified place and any thing in it;\n(c) copy specified documents or classes of documents;\n(d) take possession of specified things or classes of things.\n(3) A police officer must, on request, produce a copy of the authority\nmentioned in subsection (2) to the owner or occupier of the place or\nthe person in possession of the document or thing inspected,\ncopied or taken under that subsection.\n(4) A coroner may release a thing kept under subsection (2)(d) and\nmay require a person to whom the thing is released to give an\nundertaking to comply with reasonable conditions of release and\nthe person must comply with the undertaking.\nMaximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:\n40 penalty units.\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and\ndisasters\n34 Coroners' findings and comments\n(1) A coroner investigating:\n(a) a death must, if possible, find:\n(i) the identity of the deceased person; and\n(ii) the time and place of death; and\n(iii) the cause of death; and\n(iv) the particulars needed to register the death under the\nBirths, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996; and\n(v) any relevant circumstances concerning the death; or\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 16\n(b) a disaster must, if possible, find:\n(i) the cause and origin of the disaster; and\n(ii) the circumstances in which the disaster occurred.\n(2) A coroner may comment on a matter, including public health or\nsafety or the administration of justice, connected with the death or\ndisaster being investigated.\n(3) A coroner must not, in an investigation, include in a finding or\ncomment a statement that a person is or may be guilty of an\noffence.\n(4) A coroner must ensure that the particulars mentioned in\nsubsection (1)(a)(iv) are provided to the Registrar as defined in\nsection 4 of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration\nAct 1996.\n35 Coroners' reports\n(1) A coroner may report to the Attorney-General on a death or\ndisaster investigated by the coroner.\n(2) A coroner may make recommendations to the Attorney-General on\na matter, including public health or safety or the administration of\njustice connected with a death or disaster investigated by the\ncoroner.\n(3) A coroner may report to the Commissioner of Police and the\nDirector of Public Prosecutions appointed under the Director of\nPublic Prosecutions Act 1990 if the coroner believes that an\noffence may have been committed in connection with a death or\ndisaster investigated by the coroner.\n36 Compliance with coroner's direction\n(1) Where a coroner believes on reasonable grounds that a person\nhas information relevant to an investigation, the coroner may direct\nthe person to give the information to a coroner, a coroner's clerk or\na police officer.\n(2) A person must not, without reasonable excuse, refuse or fail to\ncomply with a lawful direction by a coroner given under\nsubsection (1).\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units.\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 17\n37 Advertisement of inquest\nA coroner's clerk must, not less than 14 days before an inquest,\npublish in a newspaper circulating generally in the area, the date,\ntime, place and subject of the inquest.\n38 Statements made by witnesses\n(1) If:\n(a) a person summoned to attend at an inquest as a witness\ndeclines to answer a question on the ground that his or her\nanswer will criminate or tend to criminate him or her; and\n(b) it appears to the coroner expedient for the purposes of justice\nthat the person be compelled to answer the question;\nthe coroner may tell the person that, if the person answers the\nquestion and other questions that may be put to him or her, the\ncoroner will grant the person a certificate under this section.\n(2) A person who has been offered a certificate under subsection (1) is\nno longer entitled to refuse to answer questions on the ground that\nhis or her answers will criminate or tend to criminate him or her\nand, when the person has given evidence, the coroner must give\nthe person a certificate to the effect that the person was summoned\nto attend at an inquest as a witness, the person's evidence was\nrequired for the purposes of justice and the person gave evidence.\n(3) Where a person is given a certificate under this section in respect\nof evidence given at an inquest, a statement by the person as part\nof that evidence in answer to a question is not admissible in\nevidence in criminal or civil proceedings, or in proceedings before a\ntribunal or person exercising powers and functions in a judicial\nmanner, against the person other than on a prosecution for perjury.\n39 Rules of evidence not binding\nA coroner holding an inquest is not bound by the rules of evidence\nand may be informed, and conduct the inquest, in a manner the\ncoroner reasonably thinks fit.\n40 Rights of interested persons\n(1) The Attorney-General may, at an inquest, appear or be\nrepresented, call and examine or cross-examine witnesses, and\nmake submissions.\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 18\n(2) A coroner may make available a statement that the coroner intends\nto consider at an inquest to a person who, in the opinion of the\ncoroner, has a sufficient interest.\n(3) A person who, in the opinion of the coroner, has a sufficient interest\nmay, at an inquest, appear or be represented, call and examine or\ncross-examine witnesses, and make submissions.\n41 Coroner's powers at inquest\n(1) A coroner may:\n(a) summon a person to attend at an inquest as a witness or to\nproduce a document or materials; and\n(b) inspect, copy and keep for a reasonable period a thing\nproduced at an inquest; and\n(c) subject to section 38, order a witness to give evidence on\noath; and\n(d) give directions and do anything as the coroner thinks fit.\n(2) A coroner:\n(a) may appoint a person to assist the coroner for the purpose of\nan inquest; or\n(b) must appoint a person to assist the coroner for the purpose of\nan inquest into a death in custody.\n(3) A person must obey a summons, order or direction under\nsubsection (1).\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty units. or imprisonment for\n6 months.\n(4) If a person to whom a summons is issued does not appear, the\ncoroner may issue a warrant to arrest the person.\n42 Exclusion from inquest\n(1) Subject to this section, a coroner must conduct an inquest in open\ncourt.\n(2) A coroner may, if he or she thinks fit, for the administration of\njustice or national security or personal security at an inquest, order\nthat all or any persons must go and remain outside and beyond the\nhearing of an inquest.\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 19\n(3) The coroner's clerk must place a copy of an exclusion order under\nsubsection (2) in a conspicuous place on or in the building where\nthe inquest is held.\n(4) A coroner:\n(a) must order the removal from an inquest of a person who\ndisobeys an exclusion order under subsection (2); and\n(b) may order the imprisonment of the person for not more than\n2 hours if the coroner reasonably believes that the person will\ncontinue to disobey the exclusion order.\n43 Restriction on publication of reports\n(1) A coroner must order that a report of an inquest or of part of the\nproceedings, or of evidence given at an inquest, not be published if\nthe coroner reasonably believes that, to publish the report, would:\n(a) be likely to prejudice a person's fair trial; or\n(b) be contrary to the administration of justice, national security or\npersonal security; or\n(c) involve the disclosure of details of sensitive personal matters\nincluding, where the senior next of kin of the deceased have\nso requested, the name of the deceased.\n(2) A person must not publish a report in contravention of an order\nunder subsection (1).\nMaximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:\n85 penalty units or imprisonment for 2 years.\n44 Orders by Supreme Court to hold new inquest and re-open\ninquest\n(1) A person may apply to the Supreme Court for an order that some\nor all the findings of an inquest are void.\n(2) The Supreme Court may declare that some or all the findings of an\ninquest are void and may order a coroner:\n(a) to hold a new inquest, or direct a coroner, other than the\ncoroner who held the first inquest, to hold a new inquest; or\n(b) to re-open (or direct another coroner to re-open) an inquest\nand to re-examine a finding.\n\nPart 6 Investigations and inquests into deaths and disasters\nCoroners Act 1993 20\n(3) The Supreme Court may make an order under subsection (2) if it is\nsatisfied that:\n(a) it is necessary because of fraud, consideration of evidence,\nfailure to consider evidence, irregularity of proceedings or\ninsufficiency of inquiry; or\n(b) there is a mistake in the record of the findings; or\n(c) there are new facts or evidence; or\n(d) the findings are against the evidence and the weight of\nevidence.\n44A Coroner may re-open inquest\n(1) If:\n(a) a coroner has under section 16 decided not to hold an inquest\ninto a death; and\n(b) a coroner (who may be the coroner who made the decision\nnot to hold the inquest or another coroner who has jurisdiction\nto hold an inquest) is satisfied, despite the decision under\nsection 16, that there are new facts or there is new evidence\nthat make it necessary or desirable to hold an inquest into the\ndeath;\nthe coroner mentioned in paragraph (b) may hold an inquest into\nthe death.\n(2) A coroner who has jurisdiction to hold an inquest may, on the\ncoroner's own initiative, re-open an inquest if the coroner is\nsatisfied that new facts or evidence make it necessary or desirable\nto re-open the inquest.\n45 Coroner not to be called as witness\n(1) A coroner must not be called to give evidence in a court or judicial\nproceedings about anything coming to his or her knowledge in\ncarrying out a coroner's powers, duties or functions under this Act.\n(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in relation to proceedings against a\ncoroner for an offence.\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous matters\nCoroners Act 1993 21\n46 Contempt\nA person must not:\n(a) insult a coroner in relation to the exercise of his or her powers\nor functions as a coroner; or\n(b) interrupt an inquest; or\n(c) create a disturbance or take part in creating or continuing a\ndisturbance in or near a place where an inquest is being held.\nMaximum penalty: 40 penalty or imprisonment for 6 months.\nPart 7 Miscellaneous matters\n46A Reports etc. under section 27 or 35 to be forwarded to\nAgencies etc.\n(1) If the Attorney-General receives a report or recommendation from a\ncoroner under section 27 or 35 that contains comment relating to\nan Agency or the Police Force of the Northern Territory, the\nAttorney-General must, without delay, give a copy of the report or\nrecommendation to the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency or the\nCommissioner of Police, as the case requires.\n(2) If the Attorney-General receives a report or recommendation from a\ncoroner under section 27 or 35 that contains comment relating to a\nCommonwealth department or agency, the Attorney-General, must\nwithout delay, give a copy of the report or recommendation to the\nCommonwealth Minister responsible for the administration of the\ndepartment or agency.\n46B Response to reports\n(1) If a Chief Executive Officer or the Commissioner of Police receives\na copy of a report or recommendation under section 46A(1), the\nChief Executive Officer or Commissioner must, within 3 months\nafter receiving the report or recommendation, give to the Attorney-\nGeneral a written response to the findings in the report or to the\nrecommendation.\n(2) The response of the Chief Executive Officer or the Commissioner\nof Police is to include a statement of the action that the Agency or\nthe Police Force is taking, has taken or will take with respect to the\ncoroner's report or recommendation.\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous matters\nCoroners Act 1993 22\n(3) On receiving the response of the Chief Executive Officer or the\nCommissioner of Police, the Attorney-General:\n(a) must, without delay, report on the coroner's report or\nrecommendation and the response to the coroner's report or\nrecommendation; and\n(b) may give a copy of his or her report to the coroner; and\n(c) must lay a copy of his or her report before the Legislative\nAssembly within 3 sitting days after completing the report.\n(4) The coroner may give a copy of the Attorney-General's report to:\n(a) the senior next of kin of a deceased person mentioned in the\nreport (or a representative of the senior next of kin); and\n(b) a witness who appeared at the inquest the subject of the\nreport; and\n(c) any other person who the coroner considers has sufficient\ninterest in the inquest or investigation the subject of the report.\n47 Regulations\n(1) The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this\nAct, prescribing matters:\n(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or\n(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or\ngiving effect to this Act.\n(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Regulations\nmay prescribe:\n(a) the qualifications of a medical practitioner who may be\nrequested by the coroner to conduct an autopsy; and\n(b) the persons to be notified of an autopsy requested by the\ncoroner; and\n(c) conditions relating to the conduct of an autopsy; and\n(d) issue of certificates relating to the disposal of human remains;\nand\n(e) rules for the conduct of an investigation or inquest, including\nadjournment and resumption of an investigation or inquest;\nand\n\nPart 7 Miscellaneous matters\nCoroners Act 1993 23\n(f) methods of dealing with exhibits; and\n(g) circumstances in which death or events causing or\nthreatening to cause death must be reported by a person to a\ncoroner; and\n(h) the manner of complying with obligations imposed by this Act\nor the Regulations; and\n(j) forms issued under or for this Act; and\n(k) fees payable for a matter or thing under this Act.\n48 Repeal\nThe Acts specified in Schedule 2 are repealed.\n49 Transitional\n(1) In this section the former Act means the Coroners Act 1974 as in\nforce immediately before the commencement of this Act.\n(2) An inquest or inquiry commenced under the former Act and not\ncompleted before the commencement of this Act must, on that\ncommencement, is taken to be an investigation under this Act and\nthe coroner conducting the investigation has the jurisdiction,\npowers and functions vested under this Act.\n\nSchedule 1\nCoroners Act 1993 24\nSchedule 1\nsection 5\nOATH\nI, ____________ [promise/swear etc. as required by Oaths, Affidavits and\nDeclarations Act 2010] that I will well and truly serve in the office of deputy\ncoroner and that I will do right to all manner of people according to law,\nwithout fear or favour, affection or ill-will. [So help me God! or as appropriate]\n\nSchedule 2 Repealed Acts\nCoroners Act 1993 25\nSchedule 2 Repealed Acts\nsection 48\nOrdinance, Act Number and year\nCoroners Ordinance 1974 No. 51, 1974\nCoroners Ordinance 1975 No. 6, 1975\nCoroners Amendment Act 1982 No. 60, 1982\nCoroners Amendment Act 1986 No. 36, 1986\n\nENDNOTES\nCoroners Act 1993 26\nENDNOTES\n1 KEY Key to abbreviations\namd = amended od = order\napp = appendix om = omitted\nbl = by-law pt = Part\nch = Chapter r = regulation/rule\ncl = clause rem = remainder\ndiv = Division renum = renumbered\nexp = expires/expired rep = repealed\nf = forms s = section\nGaz = Gazette sch = Schedule\nhdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision\nins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation\nlt = long title sub = substituted\nnc = not commenced\n2 LIST OF LEGISLATION\nCoroners Act 1993 (Act No. 30, 1993)\nAssent date 9 July 1993\nCommenced 3 April 1994 (Gaz S24, 31 March 1994)\nStatute Law Revision Act 1994 (Act No. 50, 1994)\nAssent date 20 September 1994\nCommenced 20 September 1994\nStatute Law Revision Act 1995 (Act No. 14, 1995)\nAssent date 23 June 1995\nCommenced 23 June 1995\nBirths, Deaths and Marriages Registration (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act\nNo. 27, 1996)\nAssent date 28 June 1996\nCommenced 1 January 1997 (s 2, s 2 Births, Deaths and Marriages\nRegistration Act 1996 (Act No. 26, 1996) and Gaz G49,\n4 December 1996, p 5)\nCoroners Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 22, 1998)\nAssent date 30 March 1998\nCommenced s 8: 3 April 1994; rem: 29 April 1998; (s 2 and Gaz G16,\n29 April 1998, p 2)\nMental Health and Related Services (Consequential Amendments) Act 1999 (Act No. 11,\n1999)\nAssent date 25 March 1999\nCommenced 1 February 2000 (s 2, s 2 Mental Health and Related Services\nAct 1998 (Act No. 63, 1998) and Gaz G3, 26 January 2000,\np 2)\n\nENDNOTES\nCoroners Act 1993 27\nCoroners Amendment Act 2002 (Act No. 6, 2002)\nAssent date 28 March 2002\nCommenced 8 May 2002 (Gaz G18, 8 May 2002, p 7)\nLaw Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships Act 2003 (Act No. 1, 2004)\nAssent date 7 January 2004\nCommenced 17 March 2004 (Gaz G11, 17 March 2004, p 8)\nCoroners Amendment Act 2004 (Act No. 48, 2004)\nAssent date 13 September 2004\nCommenced 27 October 2004 (Gaz G43, 27 October 2004, p 3)\nYouth Justice (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005 (Act No. 33, 2005)\nAssent date 22 September 2005\nCommenced 1 August 2006 (s 2, s 2 Youth Justice Act 2005 (Act No. 32,\n2005) and Gaz G30, 26 July 2006, p 3)\nCare and Protection of Children Act 2007 (Act No. 37, 2007)\nAssent date 12 December 2007\nCommenced Ch 1 and pts 3.3 and 5.1: 7 May 2008 (Gaz G18, 7 May 2008,\np 4); Ch 2 (exc pt 2.1, div 6 and s 127), Ch 3, pts 3.1 and 3.2\n(exc s 187) and Ch 5, pts 5.2 to 5.6: 8 December 2008 (Gaz\nG47, 26 November 2008, p 6); s 127: nc\nJustice Legislation Amendment (Penalties) Act 2010 (Act No. 12, 2010)\nAssent date 20 May 2010\nCommenced 1 July 2010 (Gaz G24, 16 June 2010, p 2)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2010 (Act No. 29, 2010)\nAssent date 9 September 2010\nCommenced 13 October 2010 (Gaz G41, 13 October 2010, p 2)\nOaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40,\n2010)\nAssent date 18 November 2010\nCommenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations\nAct 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011,\np 4)\nStatute Law Revision Act 2011 (Act No. 30, 2011)\nAssent date 31 August 2011\nCommenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 5)\nAlcohol Mandatory Treatment Act 2013 (Act No. 17, 2013)\nAssent date 28 June 2013\nCommenced 1 July 2013 (s 2)\nCorrectional Services (Related and Consequential Amendments) Act 2014 (Act No. 27,\n2014)\nAssent date 4 September 2014\nCommenced 9 September 2014 (Gaz S80, 9 September 2014, p 2)\nLocal Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016)\nAssent date 6 April 2016\nCommenced 1 May 2016 (Gaz S34, 29 April 2016)\n\nENDNOTES\nCoroners Act 1993 28\nJustice and Other Legislation Amendment (Records of Depositions and Other Matters)\nAct 2016 (Act No. 16, 2016)\nAssent date 8 June 2016\nCommenced 1 July 2016 (Gaz S59, 1 July 2016)\nAlcohol Harm Reduction Act 2017 (Act No. 16, 2017)\nAssent date 30 August 2017\nCommenced 1 September 2017 (Gaz S61, 31 August 2017)\nJustice and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 7, 2021)\nAssent date 13 April 2021\nCommenced 14 April 2021 (s 2)\nBurial and Cremation Act 2022 (Act No. 16, 2022)\nAssent date 9 August 2022\nCommenced 28 November 2022 (Gaz S60, 23 November 2022)\n3 SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS\ns 67 Law Reform (Gender, Sexuality and De Facto Relationships Act 2003\n(Act No. 1, 2004)\n4 GENERAL AMENDMENTS\nGeneral amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table\nof amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation\nAmendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 11A, 12, 34, 35 and 49\nand sch 1.\n5 LIST OF AMENDMENTS\npt 1 hdg amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 3 amd No. 14, 1995, s 3; No. 22, 1998, s 4; No. 6, 2002, s 4; No. 1, 2004, s 62;\nNo. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 16, 2022, s 222\npt 2 hdg amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 4 amd No. 22, 1998, s 5; No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 9, 2016, s 62\ns 4A ins No. 22, 1998, s 6\namd No. 29, 2010, s 7\ns 4B ins No. 7, 2021, s 15\ns 5 amd No. 22, 1998, s 7; No. 40, 2010, s 16; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 6 amd No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 7 amd No. 9, 2016, s 63\ns 8 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 9 amd No. 9, 2016, s 64\ns 10 amd No. 40, 2010, s 17\ns 11 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 11A ins No. 16, 2016, s 4\ns 12 amd No. 11, 1999, s 4; No. 48, 2004, s 3; No. 33, 2005, s 5; No. 37, 2007,\ns 337; No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 17, 2013,\ns 151; No. 27, 2014, s 57; No. 16, 2017, s 60\ns 13 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 14 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 15 amd No. 22, 1998, s 8; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 16 amd No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 17 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 19 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\n\nENDNOTES\nCoroners Act 1993 29\nss 21 – 23 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 24 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 16, 2022, s 222\ns 25 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 26 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 27 amd No. 6, 2002, s 5; No. 29, 2010, s 7\ns 29 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 31 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 32 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 33 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 34 amd No. 27, 1996, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 35 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 9, 2016, s 65\ns 36 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 37 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 38 sub No. 6, 2002, s 6\namd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 41 amd No. 6, 2002, s 7; No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 40, 2010, s 18; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 42 amd No. 50, 1994, s 16; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 43 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 44 amd No. 29, 2010, s 7\ns 44A ins No. 6, 2002, s 8\namd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 45 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 46 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 29, 2010, s 7\npt 7 hdg amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 46A ins No. 6, 2002, s 9\ns 46B ins No. 6, 2002, s 9\namd No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3\ns 47 amd No. 29, 2010, s 7; No. 30, 2011, s 3; No. 16, 2022, s 222\ns 49 amd No. 30, 2011, s 3\nsch 1 amd No. 40, 2010, s 19","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":7,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act as presented is a consolidated instrument that has been amended over time to add administrative, procedural and inter-agency mechanisms beyond the original framework. Examples in the text: the codified functions and administrative oversight role of a Territory Coroner (s 4A) and the power to appoint an acting Territory Coroner (s 4B); records-and-exhibits provisions linking coronial records to the Local Court Act (s 11A); formal requirements for agencies to receive coroner reports and to respond in writing within three months (ss 46A–46B); and an expanded regulation-making head of power covering technical matters and fees (s 47). These additions broadened the operational and administrative scope of the coronial system — increasing procedural duties on both public agencies (police, correctional services, health agencies) and private actors who must report or produce material — while preserving the Act’s core purpose of providing for coronial investigations and inquests (long title; ss 14–16, 28–31)."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple decision points with broad coroner discretion (ss 4A(2), 14–16, 41)","Detailed reporting and notification obligations across different actors (medical practitioners, police, custodial and care providers) with penalties for non-compliance (ss 12–13, 25, 36)","Interplay with other courts and review mechanisms (rights to seek Supreme Court orders under ss 16(2)–(3), 21(3), 24(4), and ss 44–44A)","Extensive investigatory powers including entry, seizure, autopsy and exhumation with procedural protections and time-limits (ss 19–21, 24, 33)","Publication and evidence rules that restrict admissibility and public reporting while balancing open justice (ss 38, 39, 42–43)","Obligations on executive agencies to respond to coronial recommendations within fixed timeframes (ss 46A–46B)","Cross-references to and dependence on other legislation (e.g. Burial and Cremation Act 2022, Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1996, Care and Protection, Correctional Services), raising implementation and coordination complexity","Regulation-making powers that delegate many procedural and technical details (s 47) which can shift practical complexity into subordinate instruments","Varied criminal penalties with differing maxima (penalty units and imprisonment) across provisions creating enforcement complexity (ss 12, 25, 36, 41(3), 43(2))","Amendment history and inserted provisions (e.g. s 11A, s 4B, ss 46A–46B) that affect the statutory architecture and administrative practice"],"plain_english_summary":"What this law does, mechanically\n\n- Establishes the office of coroner and related roles: Territory Coroner, deputy coroners and coroner's clerks (ss 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 9–10). The Territory Coroner is given responsibility for running and coordinating the coronial system and ensuring reportable deaths are investigated (s 4A).\n- Creates a duty to report certain deaths (\"reportable deaths\") to a coroner or police and requires those reporting to provide information (ss 12–13). Specified failures carry penalties (s 12(2)–(5), s 13).\n- Gives coroners broad investigative powers: to investigate deaths and disasters, enter places, take copies, seize and keep items, order autopsies or exhumations, summon witnesses and direct police (ss 14–21, 24, 19, 33, 41, 25). Failure to comply with lawful directions or summonses carries criminal penalties (ss 25, 36, 41(3)).\n- Sets when coroners must or may hold inquests and creates procedures for decisions not to hold inquests, re-opening inquests and judicial review by the Supreme Court (ss 15–16, 44–44A).\n- Prescribes what a coroner must try to find and what the coroner may comment on in a report (e.g. identity, time/place/cause of death; cause/origin of disaster) and prohibits findings that a person is or may be guilty of an offence (s 34(1)–(4)).\n- Provides for coroners to report findings and make recommendations to the Attorney-General and relevant agencies, and requires agencies to respond within fixed timeframes (ss 35, 46A–46B).\n- Regulates public access and publication of inquest material, allows exclusion orders and places limits on admissibility of compelled witness statements (ss 37–39, 42–43). There are serious penalties for unlawful publication of restricted material (s 43(2)).\n- Enables regulations to fill in procedural and technical details, including fees and the conduct of autopsies (s 47).\n\nOfficial purpose-claims\n\n- The Act’s long title and s 4A frame its purpose as providing for the office of coroner, holding inquests into causes and manner of death, inquiring into disasters and administering a coronial system.\n\nTesting the official claims against costs, incentives and trade-offs (source-grounded)\n\n- Who decides and where discretion sits: the coroner has wide discretionary powers to investigate, hold inquests, direct autopsies/exhumations, restrict access to sites and direct police (ss 4A(2), 14–16, 19–21, 24, 32–33, 41). The Administrator appoints coroners and acting coroners (ss 4(2), 4B, 5). These are legal delegations of decision-making authority rather than automatic administrative rules.\n\n- Who pays or bears practical costs: individuals and organisations required to report or give information bear compliance costs and risk penalties for non-compliance (reporting and information duties in ss 12–13 carry penalties). Agencies and the Police Force are required to receive coroner reports and to prepare written responses and implementation statements (ss 46A–46B), so government entities must allocate staff and budget to respond. The Act also allows regulations to prescribe fees (s 47(2)(k)) which may create direct costs for private parties where fees are specified.\n\n- Compliance burden and enforcement risk: the Act creates multiple statutory duties with quantified penalties (e.g. reporting duties s 12; failing to comply with coroner's direction s 36; failing to comply with police direction s 25; non-publication s 43(2); summons non-compliance s 41(3)). Those duties apply to a mix of private individuals (medical practitioners, senior next of kin), public officials (police, correctional authorities) and institutions (health facilities, custodial facilities). The range of penalties and the criminal enforcement pathway mean compliance requires active administrative processes within those organisations (ss 12, 13, 25, 36, 41(3), 43(2)).\n\n- Effects on private enterprise and independent actors: most powers target public safety and investigatory needs rather than regulating markets. However, businesses or private owners may be affected when coroners exercise entry/seizure powers (ss 19, 33) or when a disaster or inquest concerns their premises or operations. Publication restrictions (s 43) and witness-immunity certificates (s 38) may limit what media or private parties can publish or rely on from inquest evidence.\n\n- Incentives and opportunity costs: by requiring investigations of reportable deaths and enabling recommendations to agencies with mandatory responses (ss 14–16, 35, 46A–46B), the Act channels public-sector resources into coronial inquiry and follow-up. That produces administrative costs and may shift agency priorities; the Act does not itself allocate funding but creates procedural obligations for agencies to act and report on action taken (s 46B).\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and implementation risk: broad terms like \"reasonable steps\" (e.g. notice for autopsy or exhumation s 22, s 24) and wide investigatory powers (ss 19, 33) give coroners latitude, which requires oversight mechanisms (notification duties, rights of review to the Supreme Court s 16(2)–(3), s 44). The success of the system depends on inter-agency cooperation, timely reporting by police/medical practitioners (ss 12–13, 31) and adequate administrative resourcing to meet statutory timelines for responses (s 46B).\n\n- Trade-offs concerning transparency and legal process: the Act balances public access (open inquests s 42(1), advertising of inquests s 37) with limits for fair trial, national/personal security and sensitive personal matters (s 43). It also protects compelled witness evidence from later admissibility (s 38(3)), which encourages candour at the cost of limiting prosecutorial or civil use of that evidence.\n\nConcrete concentrated and diffuse impacts (source-grounded)\n\n- Concentrated impacts: police, correctional authorities, hospitals, medical practitioners and agencies responsible for public safety receive the bulk of direct obligations (reporting duties s 12; directions s 25; inquests for deaths in custody s 15(1)(a)–(b); agency response obligations s 46A–46B).\n- Diffuse impacts: family members, witnesses and the public are affected by process rules (notification duties ss 16(1), 22, 24), publication limits (s 43) and rules about compelled evidence (s 38).\n\nNet effect on private choice, competition and contract freedom (source-grounded)\n\n- The Act mainly constrains and equips investigators and public-sector actors rather than directly regulating commercial competition or private contracts. Private actors may face temporary restrictions (entry, seizure, publication limits) and procedural obligations if they hold evidence or are connected to a reportable death or disaster (ss 19, 33, 41, 43). Fees may be prescribed by regulation (s 47(2)(k)), which could create small direct costs for private parties where regulations specify them.\n\nPractical implementation points to watch (source-grounded)\n\n- Timeliness and clarity of notifications to senior next of kin are required in several places (ss 16(1)(c)(i), 22, 24) and the law builds in 48‑hour windows for contesting autopsies/exhumations (ss 21(3), 23(2)–(3), 24(3)–(4)).\n- Agencies must respond to coroner recommendations within three months and the Attorney‑General must lay a report before the Legislative Assembly (s 46B(1)–(3)). These formal reporting steps create predictable administrative obligations that agencies must resource.\n\nKey sections for quick reference\n\n- Office and functions of coroners: ss 4, 4A, 4B, 5\n- Reportable deaths and reporting duties: s 12; information duties: s 13\n- Investigatory powers (entry, seizure, autopsy, exhumation): ss 19–24, 33\n- Inquests, findings and restrictions on findings: ss 14–16, 34\n- Compelled evidence and admissibility protections: s 38\n- Publication restrictions and penalties: s 43\n- Reporting recommendations and agency responses: ss 35, 46A–46B\n- Regulation-making power (procedural details, fees): s 47\n\nWhy it matters (stated neutrally)\n\n- The Act sets the legal framework that decides who investigates unexpected or suspicious deaths and disasters, what powers and duties those investigators have, what rights families and interested persons have at inquests, and how agencies must respond to coronial findings. The law therefore defines procedural obligations for public bodies and creates criminal sanctions and administrative duties for non‑compliance. Those concrete mechanisms allocate investigatory authority, impose information and reporting duties, and require follow-up by government agencies (ss 4A, 12–13, 19–21, 35, 46A–46B)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1993 Act focused primarily on investigating individual deaths and holding inquests. Over nearly 30 years of amendments (as shown in the endnotes), the legislation has expanded significantly to include: (1) a dedicated Territory Coroner with system-wide oversight functions (sections 4A, 4B added 1998 and 2021); (2) mandatory reporting and response mechanisms for government agencies (sections 46A and 46B added 2002); (3) explicit disaster investigation powers (Part 5); (4) detailed custody death investigation requirements with prevention-focused recommendations (section 26); and (5) complex procedural safeguards for families (senior next of kin notification and objection rights). The Act has evolved from a simple inquest mechanism to a comprehensive death-in-custody accountability and public safety system."},"complexity_factors":["Moderate length (49 sections plus schedules) with substantial cross-referencing to other NT Acts (Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, Mental Health and Related Services Act 1998, Correctional Services Act 2014, Youth Justice Act 2005, etc.)","Multiple defined terms in section 3 including nested definitions (e.g., 'person held in custody' defined by reference to multiple other Acts)","Complex jurisdictional rules determining when a coroner must vs. may hold an inquest (sections 15-16), with mandatory inquests for deaths in custody but discretionary for others","Specific procedural safeguards with strict time limits (48-hour windows for objections to autopsies/exhumations, 14-day notice for inquests, 3-month response deadlines for agencies)","Interaction between coronial findings and criminal justice system (section 43 restrictions on publication to avoid prejudicing trials, section 38 immunity certificates for witnesses)","Multiple layers of review (Supreme Court can order new inquests under section 44, coroners can re-open under section 44A, senior next of kin can apply for orders under sections 16, 21, 23, 24)","Specific exclusions on deputy coroner powers (section 6(4)) creating a two-tier system of judicial officers"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this law does:**\n\nThis is the Northern Territory's **Coroners Act 1993**, which sets up the office of the coroner and establishes how deaths and disasters are investigated in the Territory.\n\n**Key things it covers:**\n\n*   **Who investigates deaths:** The Act creates the position of **Territory Coroner** (a Local Court Judge) and allows for **deputy coroners** to be appointed. The Territory Coroner oversees the whole system and makes sure all reportable deaths are properly looked into.\n\n*   **What deaths must be reported:** Certain deaths are \"**reportable deaths**\" and must be reported to a coroner. These include:\n    *   Unexpected, unnatural, or violent deaths\n    *   Deaths during or after anaesthetics\n    *   Deaths of people in **custody** (police, prison, youth detention) or in **care** (child protection, mental health facilities)\n    *   Deaths where the person's identity is unknown\n    *   Deaths of Territory residents that happen interstate without proper medical certification\n\n*   **What coroners can do:**\n    *   **Investigate** deaths and disasters (like fires, floods, or accidents causing major loss of life)\n    *   Hold **inquests** (formal public hearings) into deaths, especially when someone dies in custody or their identity is unknown\n    *   Order **autopsies** (medical examinations of bodies) and even **exhumations** (digging up buried bodies) if needed\n    *   Enter premises, seize evidence, and summon witnesses\n    *   Make **findings** about how, when, where, and why someone died\n    *   Make **recommendations** to prevent future deaths\n\n*   **Special protections and rules:**\n    *   Coroners have the same legal protection as judges\n    *   They **cannot** say someone is guilty of a crime (that's for criminal courts)\n    *   They can grant **immunity certificates** to witnesses who might incriminate themselves\n    *   Family members (**senior next of kin**) have rights to be notified about autopsies and can object to them\n    *   There are strict rules about **publication** of inquest details to protect fair trials and personal privacy\n\n*   **Deaths in custody:** These get special attention. The coroner must investigate the care and treatment the person received and must report to the Attorney-General with recommendations to prevent similar deaths.\n\n*   **Disasters:** Coroners can investigate major incidents like bushfires or industrial accidents that threaten public safety, even if no one has died.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   **Families** who have lost someone in suspicious or custody-related circumstances\n*   **Police, prison officers, and health workers** who must report deaths\n*   **Government agencies** who must respond to coroners' recommendations\n*   **The general public**, through improved safety recommendations and transparency about deaths in state care\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThis law ensures that deaths that raise public concern—especially deaths in police or prison custody—are independently investigated. It provides a check on state power, helps identify systemic failures (like unsafe practices in hospitals or prisons), and aims to prevent future deaths through public recommendations. It's a crucial transparency and accountability mechanism."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993","history":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993/history","analysis":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/coroners-act-1993/documents"}}