{"id":"BILL-QLD-3255","name":"Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025","slug":"coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025","collection":"bill","jurisdiction":"qld","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":"2025-01-01","administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":446086,"registerId":"BILL-QLD-3255:current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2025-01-01","status":"in_force","reasons":null,"registeredAt":"2026-05-06T12:45:13.019Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0001","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 1","content":"# Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nCoroners (Mining and\nResources Coroner)\nAmendment Bill 2025\n\nQueensland\nCoroners (Mining and Resources\nCoroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nContents\nPage\n1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n2 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n3 Amendment of s 7 (Duty to report deaths) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n4 Amendment of s 11 (Deaths to be investigated) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4\n5 Insertion of new s 11AAA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\n11AAA Deaths to be investigated—mining related reportable deaths\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5\n6 Amendment of s 11AA (Preliminary examinations) . . . . . . . . . . . 8\n7 Amendment of s 27 (When inquest must be held) . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n8 Amendment of s 34 (Pre-inquest conferences) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n9 Insertion of new s 47A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n47A Coroner’s findings and comments for mining related\nreportable deaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9\n10 Amendment of s 71 (Functions and powers of State Coroner) . . 9\n11 Amendment of s 74 (Acting as State Coroner) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10\n12 Amendment of pt 4, div 3, hdg (Deputy State Coroner) . . . . . . . 10\n13 Amendment of s 78 (Appointment of Deputy State Coroner) . . . 10\n14 Amendment of s 79 (Functions and powers of Deputy State Coroner)\n. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n15 Amendment of s 79A (Resignation of Deputy State Coroner) . . . 11\n16 Amendment of s 80 (When person stops being the Deputy State\nCoroner) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11\n17 Amendment of s 81 (Acting as Deputy State Coroner) . . . . . . . . 11\n18 Insertion of new s 82A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n82A Mining and Resources Coroner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12\n19 Amendment of s 91K (Chairperson) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n\nContents\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 2\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n20 Insertion of new pt 6, div 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\nDivision 7 Transitional provisions for Coroners (Mining and\nResources Coroner) Amendment Act 2025\n118 Application of Act to mining related reportable deaths after\ncommencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13\n119 Application of Act to particular pre-commencement mining\ndeaths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14\n21 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15\nSchedule 1 Other amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17\n\n2025\nA Bill\nfor\nAn Act to amend the Coroners Act 2003 for particular purposes\n\n[s 1]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 4\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nThe Parliament of Queensland enacts—\n1 Short title\nThis Act may be cited as the Coroners (Mining and Resources\nCoroner) Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Act amended\nThis Act amends the Coroners Act 2003.\nNote—\nSee also the amendments in schedule 1.\n3 Amendment of s 7 (Duty to report deaths)\n(1) Section 7(3)(a), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n(2) Section 7(3)(b), before ‘Deputy’—\ninsert—\na\n4 Amendment of s 11 (Deaths to be investigated)\n(1) Section 11, heading, after ‘investigated’—\ninsert—\n—generally\n(2) Section 11(1)—\ninsert—\nNote—\nSee also section 11AAA.\n(3) Section 11(7)(b), ‘the Deputy’—\n1\nClause 2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\nClause 16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n\n[s 5]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 5\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n5 Insertion of new s 11AAA\nAfter section 11—\ninsert—\n11AAA Deaths to be investigated—mining related\nreportable deaths\n(1) A mining related reportable death must be\ninvestigated by—\n(a) the Mining and Resources Coroner; or\n(b) if the Mining and Resources Coroner is not\navailable to investigate the death because of\nabsence or another reason—another coroner\ndirected by the State Coroner.\n(2) Subsection (1) applies despite section 11(2).\n(3) A person’s death is a mining related reportable\ndeath if—\n(a) the person’s death is a reportable death\nunder section 8(3)(b); and\n(b) the person dies at any time after receiving a\nmining related injury that—\n(i) caused the death; or\n(ii) contributed to the death and without\nwhich the person would not have died;\nand\n(c) the person receives the mining related\ninjury—\n(i) at a coal mine; or\n(ii) at a mine; or\n(iii) at or in a petroleum and gas site; and\n1\n2\nClause 3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n\n[s 5]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 6\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(d) the person’s injury is not intentionally\nself-inflicted.\n(4) For subsection (3), a mining related injury is an\ninjury from—\n(a) coal mining operations under the Coal\nMining Safety and Health Act 1999,\nschedule 3; or\n(b) operations under the Mining and Quarrying\nSafety and Health Act 1999, section 10; or\n(c) data acquisition activities; or\n(d) petroleum tenure activities; or\n(e) water monitoring activities.\n(5) In this section—\narea, of a data acquisition authority, petroleum\ntenure or water monitoring authority, see the\nPetroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act\n2004, schedule 2 or the Petroleum Act 1923,\nsection 2.\ncoal mine—\n(a) means a coal mine within the meaning of the\nCoal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999,\nsection 9, other than a coal mine that is a\nplace mentioned in section 9(1)(e) of that\nAct; and\n(b) includes a mining railway to which that Act\nwould apply in the absence of section 5A of\nthat Act.\ndata acquisition activities see the Petroleum and\nGas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, section\n176(1).\ndata acquisition authority see the Petroleum and\nGas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, section\n18(1)(c).\nmine—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n\n[s 5]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 7\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) means a mine within the meaning of the\nMining and Quarrying Safety and Health\nAct 1999, section 9, other than a mine that is\na place mentioned in section 9(1)(e) of that\nAct; and\n(b) includes—\n(i) a mine or part of a mine mentioned in\nparagraph (a) that is the subject of a\ndeclaration under section 9(4) of that\nAct; and\n(ii) a mining railway to which that Act\nwould apply in the absence of section\n5A of that Act.\npetroleum and gas site—\n(a) means—\n(i) the area of a data acquisition authority,\npetroleum tenure or water monitoring\nauthority; or\n(ii) a place where data acquisition\nactivities are carried out, continuously\nor from time to time, unlawfully\nbecause land at the place is not in the\narea of a data acquisition authority; or\n(iii) a place where a petroleum tenure\nactivity is carried out, continuously or\nfrom time to time, unlawfully because\nland at the place is not in the area of a\npetroleum tenure; or\n(iv) a place where a water monitoring\nactivity is carried out, continuously or\nfrom time to time, unlawfully because\nland at the place is not in the area of a\npetroleum tenure or a water monitoring\nauthority; and\n(b) includes buildings for administration,\naccommodation and associated facilities in\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\n[s 6]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 8\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nan area, or at a place, mentioned in\nparagraph (a), or on land adjoining or\nadjacent to the area or place.\npetroleum tenure means—\n(a) a petroleum tenure under the Petroleum and\nGas (Production and Safety) Act 2004,\nsection 18(3); or\n(b) a lease under the Petroleum Act 1923,\nsection 2.\npetroleum tenure activity means a petroleum\ntenure activity under the Petroleum and Gas\n(Production and Safety) Act 2004, section 800(3),\nother than the following—\n(a) an airborne geophysical survey;\n(b) transport to and from a petroleum and gas\nsite on a public road or public railway;\n(c) air transport to and from a petroleum and\ngas site;\n(d) a pastoral activity.\nwater monitoring activity means a water\nmonitoring activity under the Petroleum and Gas\n(Production and Safety) Act 2004, section 187(2)\nor the Petroleum Act 1923, section 87(2).\nwater monitoring authority means a water\nmonitoring authority under the Petroleum and\nGas (Production and Safety) Act 2004, section\n18(1)(d) or the Petroleum Act 1923, section 2.\n6 Amendment of s 11AA (Preliminary examinations)\nSection 11AA(1), from ‘police’ to ‘section 7(4)’—\nomit, insert—\nperson’s death has been reported to a coroner\nunder section 7\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\nClause 28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\n[s 7]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 9\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n7 Amendment of s 27 (When inquest must be held)\nSection 27(1)(a)—\ninsert—\n(iv) a mining related reportable death; or\n8 Amendment of s 34 (Pre-inquest conferences)\nSection 34—\ninsert—\n(5) This section applies despite section 29.\n9 Insertion of new s 47A\nAfter section 47—\ninsert—\n47A Coroner’s findings and comments for mining\nrelated reportable deaths\n(1) This section applies to the findings, and any\ncomments, of a coroner made in relation to the\ninvestigation of a mining related reportable death.\n(2) The coroner must give a written copy of the\nfindings and comments—\n(a) to the Attorney-General; and\n(b) to the CEO under the Resources Safety and\nHealth Queensland Act 2020; and\n(c) to the Minister administering the Resources\nSafety and Health Queensland Act 2020.\n10 Amendment of s 71 (Functions and powers of State\nCoroner)\nSection 71(1)(e), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\neach Deputy\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\nClause 5\n6\n7\n8\nClause 9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\nClause 24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 11]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 10\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n11 Amendment of s 74 (Acting as State Coroner)\n(1) Section 74(6), ‘the Deputy State Coroner may’—\nomit, insert—\nthe Chief Magistrate may appoint a Deputy State\nCoroner to\n(2) Section 74(7), definition Deputy State Coroner, ‘the\nDeputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n12 Amendment of pt 4, div 3, hdg (Deputy State Coroner)\nPart 4, division 3, heading, ‘Coroner’—\nomit, insert—\nCoroners\n13 Amendment of s 78 (Appointment of Deputy State\nCoroner)\n(1) Section 78(1), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n(2) Section 78(2)—\nomit, insert—\n(2) A Deputy State Coroner holds office for the term\nstated in the Deputy State Coroner’s instrument of\nappointment.\n(3) Section 78(4), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\nClause 10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\n[s 14]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 11\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n14 Amendment of s 79 (Functions and powers of Deputy\nState Coroner)\nSection 79, ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n15 Amendment of s 79A (Resignation of Deputy State\nCoroner)\n(1) Section 79A(1), ‘The person’—\nomit, insert—\nA person\n(2) Section 79A(1) and (2), before ‘Deputy’—\ninsert—\na\n16 Amendment of s 80 (When person stops being the\nDeputy State Coroner)\n(1) Section 80, heading, ‘the’—\nomit.\n(2) Section 80(1) and (2), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n17 Amendment of s 81 (Acting as Deputy State Coroner)\n(1) Section 81(1)(a), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n(2) Section 81(1)(b)—\nomit, insert—\nClause 1\n2\n3\n4\n5\nClause 6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\nClause 14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\nClause 21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n\n[s 18]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 12\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(b) a Deputy State Coroner is not available to\nperform the functions of a Deputy State\nCoroner because of absence or another\nreason.\n(3) Section 81(2), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n18 Insertion of new s 82A\nAfter section 82—\ninsert—\n82A Mining and Resources Coroner\n(1) The Governor in Council may appoint a local\ncoroner as the Mining and Resources Coroner.\n(2) Before making a recommendation to the\nGovernor in Council about the appointment of the\nMining and Resources Coroner, the Minister must\nfirst consult with the Chief Magistrate and the\nState Coroner.\n(3) In addition to the functions and powers of a\nmagistrate and coroner, the Mining and Resources\nCoroner has the functions and powers of the\nMining and Resources Coroner under this or\nanother Act.\n(4) The person appointed as the Mining and\nResources Coroner may, by written notice to the\nMinister, resign as Mining and Resources\nCoroner.\n(5) However, on resigning as Mining and Resources\nCoroner, the person does not stop being a\nmagistrate.\n(6) A person stops being the Mining and Resources\nCoroner—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n\n[s 19]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 13\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n(a) while the person is suspended as a\nmagistrate; or\n(b) if the person stops being a magistrate.\n(7) For a magistrate who is the Mining and Resources\nCoroner, the duties of office mentioned in the\nMagistrates Act 1991, section 43(4) include the\nduties of the Mining and Resources Coroner.\n19 Amendment of s 91K (Chairperson)\nSection 91K(1), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n20 Insertion of new pt 6, div 7\nPart 6—\ninsert—\nDivision 7 Transitional provisions for\nCoroners (Mining and\nResources Coroner)\nAmendment Act 2025\n118 Application of Act to mining related reportable\ndeaths after commencement\n(1) This Act as amended by the amendment Act\napplies to a mining related reportable death that\nhappens after the commencement whether the\nmining related injury happened before, or\nhappens after, the commencement.\n(2) In this section—\namendment Act means the Coroners (Mining and\nResources Coroner) Amendment Act 2025.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\nClause 8\n9\n10\n11\nClause 12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n\n[s 20]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 14\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n119 Application of Act to particular\npre-commencement mining deaths\n(1) This section applies in relation to a\npre-commencement mining death if—\n(a) immediately before the commencement, the\ncoroner investigating the death has not made\nall the findings of an investigation into the\ndeath; and\n(b) before the commencement—\n(i) the investigation has not gone to an\ninquest; and\n(ii) a pre-inquest conference has not been\nheld into the death; and\n(iii) the coroner has not stopped\ninvestigating the death under section\n12(2).\n(2) On the commencement, the State Coroner is taken\nto have reassigned the investigation of the\npre-commencement mining death to the Mining\nand Resources Coroner under section 63.\n(3) This Act as in force from the commencement\napplies to the pre-commencement mining death as\nif the death were a mining related reportable\ndeath.\n(4) However, despite new section 27(1)(a)(iv) and\nsubsection (5), the Mining and Resources\nCoroner must comply with a decision or order of\nthe State Coroner made under section 30, or a\nsubsequent decision or order of the District Court\nmade under section 30, in relation to the\npre-commencement mining death, whether the\ndecision or order was or is made before or after\nthe commencement.\n(5) Also, despite new section 27(1)(a)(iv), the Mining\nand Resources Coroner need not hold an inquest\ninto the pre-commencement mining death if the\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n32\n33\n34\n35\n36\n\n[s 21]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 15\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nMining and Resources Coroner is satisfied it is\nnot in the public interest for the inquest to be held.\n(6) In deciding whether it is not in the public interest\nto hold the inquest, the Mining and Resources\nCoroner must—\n(a) consult with and consider the views of a\nfamily member of the deceased person; and\n(b) consider the length of time since the death\nhappened; and\n(c) consider when the investigation is likely to\nbe completed.\n(7) In this section—\nnew section 27(1)(a)(iv) means section\n27(1)(a)(iv) as in force from the commencement.\npre-commencement mining death means the\ndeath of a person before the commencement that\nwould have been a mining related reportable\ndeath if the person had died after the\ncommencement.\n21 Amendment of sch 2 (Dictionary)\n(1) Schedule 2—\ninsert—\nmining related reportable death see section\n11AAA(3).\n(2) Schedule 2, definition coroner, paragraph (b), ‘the Deputy’—\nomit, insert—\na Deputy\n(3) Schedule 2, definition coroner—\ninsert—\n(ca) the Mining and Resources Coroner; or\n(4) Schedule 2, definition coroner, paragraphs (ca) and (d)—\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\nClause 20\n21\n22\n23\n24\n25\n26\n27\n28\n29\n30\n31\n\n[s 21]\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 16\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nrenumber as paragraphs (d) and (e). 1","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"retrieval-0002","sectionType":"document_chunk","heading":"Document excerpt 2","content":"Schedule 1\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 17\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\nSchedule 1 Other amendments\nsection 2\n1 Section 10AA(5)—\ninsert—\nhealth procedure means a dental, medical,\nsurgical or other health related procedure,\nincluding, for example, the administration of an\nanaesthetic, analgesic, sedative or other drug.\n2 Section 35(3)—\nomit.\n3 Section 38(1), ‘conference held under section 34’—\nomit, insert—\npre-inquest conference\n4 Section 47, heading, ‘comments and findings’—\nomit, insert—\nfindings and comments\n5 Sections 68 and 69(1), example, ‘conferences held under\nsection 34’—\nomit, insert—\npre-inquest conferences\n6 Schedule 2, definition health procedure—\nomit.\n1\n2\n3\n4\n5\n6\n7\n8\n9\n10\n11\n12\n13\n14\n15\n16\n17\n18\n19\n20\n21\n22\n\nSchedule 1\nCoroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Bill 2025\nPage 18\nAuthorised by the Parliamentary Counsel\n7 Schedule 2—\ninsert—\npre-inquest conference means a conference\nmentioned in section 34.\n© State of Queensland 2025\n1\n2\n3\n4","sortOrder":1}],"analysis":{"summary":{"status_summary":"The Bill received royal assent and is now enacted as the Coroners (Mining and Resources Coroner) Amendment Act 2025.","complexity_score":5,"likely_questions":["What exactly constitutes a 'mining related reportable death' under the new section 11AAA?","How is the Mining and Resources Coroner appointed, and what happens if that coroner is unavailable?","Do the transitional provisions apply to deaths that occurred before the Act commenced, and if so, what happens to those investigations?","What are the reporting obligations after an investigation into a mining related reportable death, and who receives the findings?"],"complexity_factors":["Creates a new statutory office (Mining and Resources Coroner) with a specific appointment process requiring consultation with the Chief Magistrate and State Coroner.","Defines a new category of reportable death by cross-referencing multiple Acts for mining and petroleum activities, including definitions of sites, activities and exclusions for self-inflicted injuries.","Includes transitional provisions that automatically reassign ongoing investigations to the new coroner, with a public interest test for inquests that requires consultation with family members."],"plain_english_summary":"The Bill creates a specialised Mining and Resources Coroner and a new category of “mining related reportable death,” requiring those deaths to be investigated and inquested by that coroner (or a delegate). Findings must be sent to senior government officials. It affects miners, industry employers, families and the coronial system by imposing mandatory, dedicated coronial scrutiny and reporting for deaths arising from mining and resource activities."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Bill expands the Coroners Act’s functional scope by creating a specialised coronial pathway for deaths tied to mining and resource activities. Previously the Act provided a general coronial jurisdiction over reportable deaths; the amendment introduces a new statutory category ('mining related reportable death') that must be investigated by a designated Mining and Resources Coroner (s 11AAA and s 82A). It also creates routine information flows to resource safety regulators and an explicit set of transitional rules for pre-commencement cases (ss 47A, 118–119). Those changes move the Act from general coronial coverage toward sector‑specific institutionalisation and inter‑agency reporting for the resources sector."},"complexity_factors":["New specialist role with statutory powers and duties (insertion of s 82A and new role-specific duties)","New substantive category and definition: 'mining related reportable death' (s 11AAA) with multiple subparts and cross-references","Cross-references to at least four other Acts for place and activity definitions (Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999; Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999; Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004; Petroleum Act 1923)","Procedural amendments across multiple sections (s 7, 11, 11AA, 27, 34, 47, 71, 74, 78–81, 91K) — many small, grammar/terminology changes increase reading complexity","New mandatory reporting recipients for findings (s 47A) creates inter-agency obligations","Transitional provisions with conditional logic for pre-commencement deaths and public interest exception (ss 118–119)","Schedule and dictionary amendments to harmonise terminology (addition of 'mining related reportable death', 'pre-inquest conference')","Multiple points of discretionary decision-making (State Coroner reassignments, Governor in Council appointment after consultation)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this Bill does, in plain terms**\n\n- Creates a dedicated mining‑and‑resources coronial role.\n  - A new statutory office called the *Mining and Resources Coroner* is established (s 82A).\n  - That coroner is a magistrate who the Governor in Council may appoint after the Minister consults the Chief Magistrate and the State Coroner (s 82A(1)–(3)).\n\n- Requires that certain mining‑related deaths be investigated by that specialist coroner.\n  - A new category, a “**mining related reportable death**”, is defined and must be investigated by the Mining and Resources Coroner, or by another coroner directed by the State Coroner if the specialist coroner is unavailable (s 11AAA(1)–(2), (3)).\n  - The definition covers deaths where a mining‑related injury caused or materially contributed to the death, provided the injury was not intentionally self‑inflicted (s 11AAA(3)–(4)).\n  - The places and activities covered are specified by cross‑reference to existing mining, petroleum and gas, and water monitoring regimes (coal mines, other mines, and petroleum and gas sites; see s 11AAA(3)–(4) and the in‑section definitions).\n\n- Adds duties and procedural changes tied to those investigations.\n  - Mining related reportable deaths are brought within the categories for mandatory inquest timing (inserting them into s 27(1)(a)(iv)).\n  - Pre‑inquest conferences (renamed and clarified as “pre‑inquest conferences”) expressly apply to these matters (new s 34(5) and related schedule amendments).\n  - Coroners investigating mining related reportable deaths must give their written findings and any comments to the Attorney‑General, the CEO under the Resources Safety and Health Queensland Act 2020 (RSQ CEO), and the Minister administering that Act (new s 47A).\n\n- Provides appointment, resignation and tenure mechanics for the new role and tweaks existing coroner/Deputy State Coroner language to be grammatically plural or indefinite where needed (various amendments throughout the Act: ss 71, 74, 78–81, 91K and schedule changes).\n\n- Sets out transitional rules for deaths straddling the commencement date.\n  - The new rules apply to mining related reportable deaths that occur after commencement even if the underlying injury happened earlier (s 118).\n  - For deaths before commencement where an investigation was unfinished but had not reached inquest or pre‑inquest conference, the State Coroner is treated as having reassigned the matter to the specialist coroner; the specialist coroner generally proceeds under the new rules but must follow earlier State Coroner or District Court decisions/orders, and may decline an inquest if it is not in the public interest (s 119 with its criteria in s 119(6)).\n\n**Who is affected**\n\n- State actors: the State Coroner, the Chief Magistrate, the Governor in Council, the Attorney‑General, the RSQ CEO and the Minister for Resources Safety and Health (procedural duties, appointment and notification duties: ss 82A, 47A, 118–119).\n- Coroners and magistrates: one magistrate may be appointed as the Mining and Resources Coroner and will exercise specialist coronial functions (s 82A).\n- Mining, petroleum and gas operators, and associated workplaces: deaths that arise from covered activities at coal mines, mines, petroleum and gas sites, data acquisition, petroleum tenure activities and water monitoring are drawn into specialist coronial investigation (s 11AAA(3)–(4)).\n- Families of deceased persons: the transitional provision requires consultation with family members where an inquest may be declined (s 119(6)(a)).\n\n**Why it matters (official rationale and what that implies mechanically)**\n\n- The Act’s explicit aim (as reflected in the changes) is to create a single, specialist coronial pathway for deaths tied to mining and related resource activities. Mechanically this centralises investigatory responsibility in a designated coroner, establishes mandatory reporting recipients (Attorney‑General and resource safety officials), and tightens procedural rules for pre‑inquest and inquest timing for these deaths (ss 11AAA, 47A, 27, 34, 82A).\n\n**Policy trade‑offs and practical effects (mechanisms, not judgements)**\n\n- Administrative and budgetary costs: the State bears the cost of appointing and supporting a specialist coroner and related staff; the amendments increase procedural obligations (e.g. mandatory distribution of findings to specific government recipients — s 47A). Those costs are concentrated in the coronial office and government budgets; they are not directly paid for by private parties in the statute.\n\n- Compliance and operational effects on industry: mining and resource operators will face additional scrutiny because a specialist coroner will investigate covered deaths and the coronial findings will be shared with resource safety authorities (s 47A). That may raise private legal, insurance and reputational costs for operators and could change how companies handle safety investigations, recordkeeping and incident responses.\n\n- Legal predictability and specialization: assigning mining‑related matters to a specialist coroner concentrates expertise and may produce more consistent factual and technical inquiry (mechanically, s 11AAA and s 82A achieve this). The trade‑off is potential bottlenecking if only one specialist is appointed (the State Coroner can direct another coroner when the specialist is unavailable — s 11AAA(1)(b)).\n\n- Bureaucratic discretion: the State Coroner retains direction powers to reassign investigations when the specialist coroner is unavailable (s 11AAA(1)(b)); the Minister must consult before recommending the appointment but the Governor in Council formally appoints (s 82A(1)–(2)). These design choices leave implementation details to executive actors rather than prescribing selection criteria or minimum staffing levels in the Act.\n\n- Interaction with other regulatory regimes: the definition of places and activities references multiple existing Acts (Coal Mining Safety and Health Act 1999, Mining and Quarrying Safety and Health Act 1999, Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 and the Petroleum Act 1923 — s 11AAA(4) and definitions). That makes the coronial coverage dependent on terms and boundaries set elsewhere; in practice it will require coordination between coronial and resource safety frameworks.\n\n- Transitional and timing effects: the Bill changes who must hold an inquest and when (s 27(1)(a)(iv) and s 119). For deaths already under investigation at commencement, the specialist coroner takes over unless it’s not in the public interest to proceed (procedural criteria at s 119(5)–(6)). This reallocates ongoing investigatory workload and may delay some matters while new assignment and procedural requirements are applied.\n\n**Who pays, who decides, and what behaviour changes**\n\n- Who pays: the State (coronial system) will incur administration costs; mining operators may incur increased investigation, legal, insurance and compliance costs as a result of heightened and specialised coronial scrutiny. Families may face procedural shifts in how and where their matters are heard.\n- Who decides: the Governor in Council appoints the specialist coroner on the Minister’s recommendation after consultation with the Chief Magistrate and State Coroner (s 82A); the State Coroner can direct another coroner to act where the specialist is unavailable (s 11AAA(1)(b)).\n- What changes in behaviour: operators will likely adjust internal incident response, recordkeeping and engagement with coronial processes; coronial offices will centralise mining deaths under a specialist role; government agencies (RSQ and the Minister) will receive and potentially act on coronial findings routinely (s 47A).\n\n**Implementation risks and practical notes**\n\n- Concentration risk: if only one specialist coroner is appointed, there is a risk of bottlenecks; the statute mitigates this by allowing reassignment (s 11AAA(1)(b)).\n- Cross‑statute dependence: the scope depends on definitions in several other Acts, so any change in those Acts or ambiguity in cross‑references could create uncertainty about what incidents fall within the new category (s 11AAA(4) and in‑section definitions).\n- Transitional complexity: the Bill contains detailed transitional rules for deaths spanning commencement (ss 118–119), which will require active case management to apply properly.\n\n"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025","history":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/coroners-mining-and-resources-coroner-amendment-bill-2025/documents"}}