{"id":"sr:coroners-regulations-2019","name":"Coroners Regulations 2019","slug":"coroners-regulations-2019","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181646,"registerId":"vic-sr:coroners-regulations-2019-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Coroners Regulations 2019","content":"Version No. 002\n\n**Coroners Regulations 2019**\n\n**S.R. No. 76/2019**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n11 October 2022\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocations 1\n\n5 Definitions 1\n\n6 Pathologist 2\n\n7 Person placed in custody or care 2\n\n8 Obligation to report death of a person placed in custody or care—responsible person 3\n\n9 Particulars to be provided if a coroner determines that a reported death is not a reportable death 4\n\n10 Particulars to be provided in certain reportable deaths that do not require investigation 4\n\n11 Information to be provided on the coronial process 5\n\n12 Person who may remove or assist in the removal of human tissue 7\n\n13 Restriction of access to place where death or incident occurred—Form 1 and Form 2 7\n\n14 Restriction of access to fire area—Form 3 7\n\n15 Documents and prepared statements required by coroner for investigation—Form 4 7\n\n16 Particulars to be notified following investigation of death 8\n\n17 Summons—Form 5 8\n\n18 Oath or affirmation of office for coroner—Form 6 8\n\n19 Oath or affirmation of office for judicial registrar—Form 7 8\n\n20 Warrant to arrest for contempt—Form 8 9\n\n21 Register of authorisations to investigate deaths 9\n\n22 Register of authorisations to investigate fires 9\n\n23 Register of exhumations 10\n\n24 Register of witness certificates 10\n\n25 Register of orders restricting disclosure 11\n\n26 Fees payable for copies of documents 11\n\nSchedule 1—Forms 13\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 23\n\n1 General information 23\n\n2 Table of Amendments 25\n\n3 Explanatory details 26\n\n**Version No.** **002**\n\n**Coroners Regulations 2019**\n\n**S.R. No. 76/2019**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n11 October 2022\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe certain matters and forms authorised or required to be prescribed under the **Coroners Act 2008**.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 117 of the **Coroners Act 2008**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 12 October 2019.\n\n\t4 Revocations\n\nThe following Regulations are **revoked**—\n\n(a) the Coroners Regulations 2009[[1]](#endnote-2);\n\n(b) the Coroners Amendment Regulations 2014[[2]](#endnote-3);\n\n(c) the Coroners Amendment Regulations 2019[[3]](#endnote-4).\n\n\t5 Definitions\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander*** means a person who—\n\n(a) is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; and\n\n(b) identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and\n\n(c) is accepted as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island community;\n\nReg. 5 def. of *SDA enrolled dwelling* inserted by S.R. No. 109/2022 reg. 4.\n\n***SDA enrolled dwelling*** has the same meaning as in the **Residential Tenancies Act 1997**;\n\nReg. 5 def. of *SDA resident* inserted by S.R. No. 109/2022 reg. 4.\n\n***SDA resident*** has the same meaning as in the **Residential Tenancies Act 1997**;\n\n***the Act***  means the **Coroners Act 2008**.\n\n\t6 Pathologist\n\nFor the purposes of the definition of ***pathologist*** in section 3(1) of the Act, the following registered medical practitioners are prescribed—\n\n(a) a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia;\n\n(b) a registered medical practitioner with qualifications and experience which are approved in writing by the Director of the Institute.\n\n\t7 Person placed in custody or care\n\n(1) For the purposes of paragraph (l) of the definition of ***person placed in custody or care*** in section 3(1) of the Act, a prescribed person or a prescribed class of person is—\n\n(a) a person held in detention in Victoria by an authorised person under the law of the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction; or\n\n(b) a person in Victoria who an authorised person is attempting to take into custody or who is dying from injuries sustained when an authorised person attempted to take the person into custody; or\n\n(c) a person who is dying from an injury incurred while—\n\n(i) in the care, control or custody of an authorised person; and\n\nReg. 7(1)(c)(ii) amended by S.R. No. 109/2022 reg. 5(1).\n\n(ii) in detention in Victoria under the law of the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction; or\n\nReg. 7(1)(d) inserted by S.R. No. 109/2022 reg. 5(2).\n\n(d) a person in Victoria who is an SDA resident residing in an SDA enrolled dwelling.\n\n(2) In this regulation and regulation 8, ***authorised person*** means a person authorised under the law of Victoria, the Commonwealth or another jurisdiction to—\n\n(a) take a person into custody in Victoria; and\n\n(b) keep a person in custody in Victoria.\n\nReg. 8 substituted by S.R. No. 109/2022 reg. 6.\n\n\t8 Obligation to report death of a person placed in custody or care—responsible person\n\nFor the purposes of section 11(2)(c) of the Act, the ***responsible person*** in relation to a person placed in custody or care—\n\n(a) referred to in regulation 7(1)(a), (b) or (c), is the authorised person referred to in the relevant paragraph of regulation 7(2); and\n\n(b) referred to in regulation 7(1)(d), is a person who—\n\n(i) is funded to provide an SDA resident with daily independent living support; and\n\n(ii) has reasonable grounds to believe that the resident's death has not been reported to a coroner or the Institute.\n\n\t9 Particulars to be provided if a coroner determines that a reported death is not a reportable death\n\nFor the purposes of section 16(6) of the Act, the prescribed particulars are—\n\n(a) the deceased's full name; and\n\n(b) the deceased's date of birth or, if unknown, the deceased's age at death; and\n\n(c) the cause of death; and\n\n(d) the date and place of death; and\n\n(e) the sex of the deceased; and\n\n(f) if known, whether the deceased was Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; and\n\n(g) if known, the full name and address of the deceased's next of kin; and\n\n(h) if known, the full name and address of the funeral director or other person arranging for the disposal of the human remains.\n\n\t10 Particulars to be provided in certain reportable deaths that do not require investigation\n\nFor the purposes of section 17(2) of the Act, the prescribed particulars are—\n\n(a) the deceased's full name; and\n\n(b) the deceased's date of birth or, if unknown, the deceased's age at death; and\n\n(c) the cause of death; and\n\n(d) the date and place of death; and\n\n(e) the sex of the deceased; and\n\n(f) if known, whether the deceased was Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.\n\n\t11 Information to be provided on the coronial process\n\nFor the purposes of section 21 of the Act, the prescribed information is—\n\n(a) the objectives of the Act; and\n\n(b) the meaning of a reportable death and a reviewable death; and\n\n(c) what the purpose of a coronial investigation is, including the following—\n\n(i) what a coroner must find, if possible;\n\n(ii) that recommendations might be made by a coroner following a coronial investigation which in turn may oblige certain parties receiving those recommendations to make a written response in relation to those recommendations;\n\n(iii) that the findings, comments and recommendations made following an inquest may be published on the Internet in accordance with the Act; and\n\n(d) what the identification process may involve; and\n\n(e) rights in relation to viewing and touching the body of a deceased person and access to the place of death; and\n\n(f) the meaning of a medical examination under the Act including a preliminary examination, an identification procedure and an autopsy; and\n\n(g) details about inquests conducted under the Act including the following—\n\n(i) circumstances where a coroner must conduct an inquest;\n\n(ii) the rights of interested parties at an inquest;\n\n(iii) assistance provided to a coroner at an inquest;\n\n(iv) how an inquest must be conducted; and\n\n(h) the meaning of senior next of kin under the Act and that person's rights in relation to an autopsy and an exhumation under the Act; and\n\n(i) a person's rights under the Act in relation to an exhumation, the release of a body, an inquest into a death and reopening an investigation; and\n\n(j) a person's right to seek legal representation; and\n\n(k) a person's obligation to report a death including a reviewable death and to assist the coroner under the Act; and\n\n(l) the availability of services including the following—\n\n(i) counselling services;\n\n(ii) interpreting services and translated information;\n\n(iii) legal services; and\n\n(m) access to documents under the Act; and\n\n(n) where to lodge—\n\n(i) a complaint in relation to the Coroners Court; and\n\n(ii) an appeal to the Supreme Court.\n\n\t12 Person who may remove or assist in the removal of human tissue\n\nFor the purposes of section 28(1)(d) of the Act, a prescribed person is a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law—\n\n(a) to practise in the nursing and midwifery profession as a nurse (other than as a midwife or as a student); and\n\n(b) in the registered nurses division of that profession.\n\n\t13 Restriction of access to place where death or incident occurred—Form 1 and Form 2\n\nFor the purposes of section 37(4) of the Act, a notice restricting access to a place must be in Form 1 or Form 2 of Schedule 1 (as appropriate).\n\n\t14 Restriction of access to fire area—Form 3\n\nFor the purposes of section 38(2) of the Act, a notice restricting access to a place must be in Form 3 of Schedule 1.\n\n\t15 Documents and prepared statements required by coroner for investigation—Form 4\n\nFor the purposes of section 42(2) of the Act, a requirement under section 42(1) of the Act must be in Form 4 of Schedule 1.\n\n\t16 Particulars to be notified following investigation of death\n\nFor the purposes of section 49(2) of the Act, the prescribed particulars are—\n\n(a) the deceased's full name; and\n\n(b) the deceased's date of birth or, if unknown, the deceased's age at death; and\n\n(c) the cause of death; and\n\n(d) the date and place of death; and\n\n(e) the sex of the deceased; and\n\n(f) if known, whether the deceased was Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.\n\n\t17 Summons—Form 5\n\nFor the purposes of section 55(3) of the Act, the prescribed form is Form 5 of Schedule 1.\n\n\t18 Oath or affirmation of office for coroner—Form 6\n\nFor the purposes of section 95 of the Act—\n\n(a) the prescribed form is Form 6 of Schedule 1; and\n\n(b) subject to paragraph (c), an oath or affirmation of office for a coroner must be administered by the State Coroner; and\n\n(c) an oath or affirmation of office for the State Coroner must be administered by the Chief Judge of the County Court.\n\n\t19 Oath or affirmation of office for judicial registrar—Form 7\n\nFor the purposes of section 102EA(1) of the Act—\n\n(a) the prescribed form is Form 7 of Schedule 1; and\n\n(b) an oath or affirmation of office for a judicial registrar must be administered by the State Coroner or the Deputy State Coroner.\n\n\t20 Warrant to arrest for contempt—Form 8\n\nFor the purposes of section 103(2)(b) of the Act, the prescribed form is Form 8 of Schedule 1.\n\n\t21 Register of authorisations to investigate deaths\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 116(2) of the Act, a register under section 116(1)(a) of the Act is in the prescribed form if it contains the following details—\n\n(a) full name of the deceased;\n\n(b) date of the death;\n\n(c) name of the coroner who made the order;\n\n(d) date of the order;\n\n(e) expiration date of the order;\n\n(f) the full name and badge number of the police officer authorised under section 39(1) of the Act.\n\n(2) A register kept by the principal registrar under section 116(1)(a) of the Act may be inspected by a person by order of a coroner.\n\n\t22 Register of authorisations to investigate fires\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 116(2) of the Act, a register under section 116(1)(b) of the Act is in the prescribed form if it contains the following details—\n\n(a) date of the fire;\n\n(b) location of the fire;\n\n(c) name of the coroner who made the order;\n\n(d) date of the order;\n\n(e) expiration date of the order;\n\n(f) the full name and badge number of the police officer authorised under section 39(1) of the Act.\n\n(2) A register kept by the principal registrar under section 116(1)(b) of the Act may be inspected by a person by order of a coroner.\n\n\t23 Register of exhumations\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 116(2) of the Act, a register under section 116(1)(c) of the Act is in the prescribed form if it contains the following details—\n\n(a) full name of the deceased;\n\n(b) date of the death;\n\n(c) name of the State Coroner who made the order;\n\n(d) date of the order.\n\n(2) A register kept by the principal registrar under section 116(1)(c) of the Act may be inspected by a person by order of a coroner.\n\n\t24 Register of witness certificates\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 116(2) of the Act, a register under section 116(1)(d) of the Act is in the prescribed form if it contains the following details—\n\n(a) full name of the deceased;\n\n(b) date of the death;\n\n(c) name of the coroner who made the order;\n\n(d) date of the order;\n\n(e) full name of the witness.\n\n(2) A register kept by the principal registrar under section 116(1)(d) of the Act may be inspected by a person by order of a coroner.\n\n\t25 Register of orders restricting disclosure\n\n(1) For the purposes of section 116(1)(f) of the Act, a register of the following orders made by a coroner is a prescribed register—\n\n(a) an order made under section 73(1) of the Act not to publish on the internet the findings, comments and recommendations made following an inquest;\n\n(b) an order made under Part 3 of the **Open Courts Act 2013**.\n\n(2) For the purposes of section 116(2) of the Act, a register under subregulation (1) is in the prescribed form if it contains the following details—\n\n(a) full name of the deceased or Coroners Court reference number;\n\n(b) name of the coroner who made the order;\n\n(c) date of the order;\n\n(d) details of the order.\n\n(3) A register kept by the principal registrar under subregulation (1) may be inspected by a person during ordinary business hours unless a coroner otherwise orders.\n\n\t26 Fees payable for copies of documents\n\nThe fees payable in respect of the provision of copies of documents by the Coroners Court to a person are as follows—\n\n(a) a fee of no more than $1.00 per page for a black and white copy;\n\n(b) a fee of no more than $2.00 per page for a colour copy.\n\n**Note**\n\nPrescribed fees may be waived, reduced or refunded in accordance with section 118 of the Act.\n\nSchedule 1—Forms\n\nForm 1\n\nRegulation 13\n\nNotice Restricting Access to:\n\n*THE Place where A Death Occurred/*A PLACE REASONABLY CONNECTED TO THE pLACE WHERE A DEATH OCCURRED\n\n(Sections 37(2) and 37(4) of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n**YOU MUST NOT ENTER THE RESTRICTED PLACE WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF THE CORONER OR THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE**\n\n**THE RESTRICTED PLACE IS:**\n\n[*description of restricted place/area*]\n\n**Penalty:** A person who enters or interferes with a restricted place without lawful excuse may be liable to a fine of 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.\n\nThis notice is made pursuant to the order of the *State Coroner/*Deputy State Coroner/*Coroner/*Chief Commissioner of Police made on [*date*].\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 2\n\nRegulation 13\n\nNotice Restricting Access to:\n\n***The Place where an Incident Occurred/***a place reasonably connected to the place where an incident occurred\n\n(Sections 37(3) and 37(4) of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n**YOU MUST NOT ENTER THE RESTRICTED PLACE WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE**\n\n**THE RESTRICTED PLACE IS:**\n\n[*description of restricted place/area*]\n\n**Penalty:** A person who enters or interferes with a restricted place without lawful excuse may be liable to a fine of 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.\n\nThis notice is made pursuant to the order of the Chief Commissioner of Police made on [*date*].\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 3\n\nRegulation 14\n\nNotice Restricting Access to:\n\n*The place where a Fire occurred/  \n*a place reasonably connected to the place where a fire occuRred\n\n(Section 38(2) of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n**YOU MUST NOT ENTER THE RESTRICTED PLACE WITHOUT AUTHORITY OF THE CORONER OR THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER OF POLICE**\n\n**THE RESTRICTED PLACE IS:**\n\n[*description of restricted place/area*]\n\n**Penalty:** A person who enters or interferes with a restricted place without lawful excuse may be liable to a fine of 60 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.\n\nThis notice is made pursuant to the order of the *State Coroner/*Deputy State Coroner/*Coroner/*Chief Commissioner of Police made on [*date*].\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 4\n\nRegulation 15\n\nREQUIREMENT to GIVE Document or Prepared Statement to a coroner\n\n(Section 42 of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n**IMPORTANT: DO NOT IGNORE THIS DOCUMENT**\n\nAs soon as you receive this notice, you should seek legal advice to help you understand the requirement and your obligations. Contact your lawyer or Victoria Legal Aid or a community legal centre for advice.  \n(*Information to the effect of the above advice to be printed in the English, Arabic, Cambodian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu, Tagalog, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese languages.*)\n\nTo: [*name*]\n\nof: [*address*]\n\nYou have received this notice because the coroner is of the opinion that a document or prepared statement is required for the purposes of the investigation into:\n\n***the death of the person** described below.\n\nDetails of the deceased—\n\nName of the deceased:\n\nDate of birth (if known):\n\nDate of the death/suspected death:\n\nPlace of death/suspected death:\n\n***a fire** which occurred at [*address*] on [*date*].\n\n**WHAT YOU MUST DO**\n\n*You are required to produce the documents or types of documents specified below to the coroner: [*specify documents*]\n\n*You are required to prepare a statement addressing the matters specified below by the coroner and give the statement to the coroner: [*specify matters to be addressed in statement*]\n\nYou are not required to give information in a statement to the coroner if the information provided in the statement would tend to incriminate you (section 50 of the **Coroners Act 2008**).\n\nYou are requested to advise the coroner in writing if you intend to rely on section 50 of the **Coroners Act 2008** and will not comply with this notice.\n\nYou must comply with this requirement within [*number*] days after the day on which the notice is served on you.\n\nThe address for delivery of documents or the prepared statement is: [*address*]\n\nYou can contact the Registry of the Coroners Court on 1300 309 519 if you have any questions about this requirement.\n\n**WARNING:** Under section 42(3) of the **Coroners Act 2008** it is an offence for a person who is required to provide a document or prepared statement under section 42(1) of that Act to fail, without lawful excuse, to comply with the order within the period specified by the coroner.\n\nThe maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of 20 penalty units.\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 5\n\nRegulation 17\n\nSummons to Attend as a Witness or Produce Documents\n\n(Section 55(2)(a) and 55(3) of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\nIMPORTANT: DO NOT IGNORE THIS DOCUMENT\n\nAs soon as you receive this summons, you should seek legal advice to help you understand the summons and your obligations. Contact your lawyer or Victoria Legal Aid or a community legal centre for advice.\n\n(*Information to the effect of the above advice to be printed in the English, Arabic, Cambodian, Cantonese, Mandarin, Croatian, Greek, Hindi, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, Urdu, Tagalog, Italian, Macedonian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese languages.*)\n\nTo the witness: [*name*]\n\nof: [*address*]\n\n**An inquest or preliminary hearing is to be held into:**\n\n***the death of the person** described below.\n\nDetails of the deceased—\n\nName of the deceased:\n\nDate of birth (if known):\n\nDate of the death/suspected death:\n\nPlace of death/suspected death:\n\n***a fire** which occurred at [*address*] on [*date*].\n\n**What you must do:**\n\nYou must bring this summons with you and—\n\n🞏 attend court to give evidence as a witness\n\n🞏 attend court to give evidence as a witness and also produce to the court the following documents or materials: [*specify documents or materials*]\n\n🞏 produce to the court the following documents or materials: [*specify documents or materia*ls]\n\n**Where you must go:**\n\nThe Coroners Court at [*venue*]\n\nAddress Phone\n\nWhen Time Day Month Year\n\n**Issued at the Coroners Court,** [*venue*] **on the** [*date*].\n\n*State Coroner/*Deputy State Coroner/*Coroner\n\n**WARNING:** If you fail to comply with this summons without lawful excuse, a coroner may issue a warrant for your arrest under section 59 of the **Coroners Act 2008**.\n\n**NOTES**\n\n1. You have a right to make an application to the court under section 57 of the **Coroners Act 2008** objecting to giving evidence at an inquest on the ground that the evidence may tend to prove that you have committed an offence under an Australian law or a law of a foreign country, or that you are liable to a civil penalty under an Australian law or law of a foreign country.\n\n2. You may also have a right to apply to the court for an order with respect to any claim you may have for any applicable privilege under the **Evidence Act 2008** in relation to evidence you may be required to give under the summons.\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 6\n\nRegulation 18\n\nOath or aFFirmation of Office FOR a Coroner\n\n(Section 95 of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n*OATH OF OFFICE FOR A CORONER\n\nI, [*full name*], swear by Almighty God (or the person may name a god recognised by that person's religion) that, as a coroner of the Coroners Court of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\n*affirmation of Office FOR a Coroner\n\nI, [*full name*], solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that, as a coroner of the Coroners Court of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 7\n\nRegulation 19\n\nOath and Affirmation of Office FOR Judicial Registrar\n\n(Section 102EA of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n*OATH OF OFFICE FOR JUDICIAL REGISTRAR\n\nI, [*full name*], swear by Almighty God (or the person may name a god recognised by that person's religion) that, as a judicial registrar of the Coroners Court of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\n*AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE FOR JUDICIAL REGISTRAR\n\nI, [*full name*], solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that, as a judicial registrar of the Coroners Court of Victoria, I will at all times and in all things discharge the duties of my office according to law and to the best of my knowledge and ability without fear, favour, affection or ill-will.\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\nForm 8\n\nRegulation 20\n\nWarrant to Arrest for Contempt\n\n(Section 103 of the **Coroners Act 2008**)\n\n**TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS**\n\nArrest [*insert* *name*] and bring that person before the Coroners Court to answer a charge of contempt of the Court as follows [*insert details of the charge*], and if it is not practicable to bring that person before the Court as soon as practicable to release that person on bail in accordance with the endorsement below.\n\nDated:\n\n*State Coroner/*Deputy State Coroner/*Coroner\n\n**ENDORSEMENT FOR BAIL**\n\nThe State Coroner or Coroner has authorised the following endorsement:\n\nThe person named may be released on entering an undertaking of bail to appear at the Coroners Court at [*venue*] on the following conditions:\n\n[*insert conditions*]\n\n**Delete if inapplicable*\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Coroners Regulations 2019, S.R. No. 76/2019 were made on 10 September 2019 by the Governor in Council under section 117 of the **Coroners Act 2008**, No. 77/2008 and came into operation on 12 October 2019: regulation 3.\n\nThe Coroners Regulations 2019 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 10 September 2029 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the Coroners Regulations 2019 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\nCoroners Amendment Regulations 2022, S.R. No. 109/2022\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 11.10.22 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 11.10.22 |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4(a): S.R. No. 120/2009 as amended by S.R. Nos 159/2014 and 9/2019. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)\n\n2. Reg. 4(b): S.R. No. 159/2014. [↑](#endnote-ref-3)\n\n3. Reg. 4(c): S.R. No. 9/2019.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Penalty Units**\n\n  These Regulations provide for penalties by reference to penalty units within the meaning of section 110 of the **Sentencing Act 1991**. The amount of the penalty is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**, by multiplying the number of penalty units applicable by the value of a penalty unit.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2022 is $184.92. The amount of the calculated penalty may be rounded to the nearest dollar.\n\n  The value of a penalty unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a penalty unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. [↑](#endnote-ref-4)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"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"},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the limited content available, there is no evidence that the scope of this regulation changed from its original intent. It appears to remain as made (Statutory Rule 76/2019), with version history suggesting consolidation updates rather than substantive scope changes."},"complexity_factors":["The document as provided contains almost no substantive legislative content — only version history metadata — making full analysis impossible","Coroners regulations generally involve multiple government agencies (police, health, courts) creating some cross-jurisdictional complexity","Procedural regulations of this type are typically moderately straightforward in language but reference other Acts and forms","As subordinate legislation (regulations rather than an Act), they must be read alongside the parent Coroners Act, adding a layer of complexity for users","Limited scope — regulations tend to be narrower and more prescriptive than Acts, keeping complexity relatively low"],"plain_english_summary":"The Coroners Regulations 2019 (Victoria) set out the practical procedures implementing the coroners’ law, governing how coronial investigations are run — from handling and release of bodies to required forms, evidence management, fees and timeframes.  \n\nThey affect bereaved families, medical practitioners, police, funeral directors and employers involved in deaths requiring coronial inquiry, and shape what to expect during an investigation."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Regulations were broadened by the 2022 amendments to include certain Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) residents within the definition of \"person placed in custody or care\" (Reg. 7(1)(d)) and to make funded providers of daily independent living support a class of \"responsible person\" required to report deaths of those residents when they have reasonable grounds to believe a death has not been reported (Reg. 8(b)). Mechanically, this is an expansion of the categories of people whose deaths may attract coronial reporting obligations and of the private service providers who carry a statutory reporting duty. Other parts of the instrument (forms, registers, fees, prescribed particulars) remain within the Regulations' original purpose of operationalising the Coroners Act, but this amendment meaningfully increased the Regulations' scope by adding an additional class of covered persons and imposing duties on disability-support providers, with corresponding compliance and administrative impacts."},"complexity_factors":["26 substantive regulations plus Schedule of 8 standard forms","Multiple defined terms introduced or amended (e.g. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, SDA enrolled dwelling, SDA resident, pathologist, authorised person) (Reg. 5, Reg. 6, Reg. 7)","Cross-references to numerous external Acts and instruments (Coroners Act 2008, Residential Tenancies Act 1997, Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, Open Courts Act 2013, Sentencing Act 1991, Monetary Units Act 2004)","Conditional and contextual rules about who is a \"responsible person\" that differ by circumstance (nested conditions in Reg. 7 and Reg. 8)","Registers with differing fields and differing inspection rules (Reg. 21–25) — each register has its own prescribed fields and access conditions","Prescribed standard forms that replicate and trigger statutory rights and penalties (Schedule 1 Forms 1–8; Form 4 and Form 5 contain warnings and multilingual information requirements)","Delegation and administrative discretion points (Director of the Institute approval in Reg. 6(b); coroner/State Coroner/Chief Commissioner decision-making powers throughout)","Penalty references and monetary-unit calculations which import external adjustment mechanisms (penalty units under Sentencing Act and value under Monetary Units Act)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What these Regulations do (mechanically)\n\n- These Regulations set out the specific forms, definitions, registers, fees and procedural details that operate under the Coroners Act 2008. They do not rewrite the Act; they prescribe how certain parts of the Act are to be carried out in practice (Reg. 1, Reg. 2).\n\n- They define key terms used for coronial purposes (for example, who counts as an \"Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander\", \"SDA enrolled dwelling\", \"SDA resident\", and who is a \"pathologist\") and specify who may perform particular functions (Reg. 5, Reg. 6, Reg. 12).\n\n- They identify categories of people treated as \"persons placed in custody or care\" for coronial-reporting duties. That list includes people detained by authorised persons, people dying during attempts to take them into custody, people dying while in custody under another jurisdiction's law, and, since amendment, certain residents of Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) enrolled dwellings (Reg. 7).\n\n- The Regulations prescribe who is the \"responsible person\" required to report the death of someone placed in custody or care. For most custody situations the authorised officer is the responsible person; for an SDA resident the responsible person is defined as a funded provider of daily independent living support who reasonably believes the death has not been reported (Reg. 8).\n\n- They prescribe the specific information that must be provided in several coronial scenarios: when a coroner decides a reported death is not reportable (Reg. 9), in certain reportable deaths that do not require investigation (Reg. 10), and particulars to be notified after an investigation (Reg. 16). The lists are concise and principally cover identity, date/place of death, cause, sex and Indigenous status where known.\n\n- They list the information a coroner must give about the coronial process to affected people (for example: what a coronial investigation or inquest is, rights in relation to autopsy and exhumation, availability of counselling and interpreting services) (Reg. 11).\n\n- They prescribe the format of a number of statutory documents and notices (access restriction notices, document/statement requirements, summonses, oaths/affirmations, arrest warrants) by providing standard forms in Schedule 1 (Reg. 13–20; Schedule 1 Forms 1–8).\n\n- They set out the content and limited public access rules for registers the principal registrar must keep (authorisations to investigate deaths/fires, exhumations, witness certificates, and orders restricting disclosure) and who may inspect those registers (Reg. 21–25).\n\n- They cap fees for copies of documents supplied by the Coroners Court at no more than $1.00 per page for black & white and $2.00 per page for colour, with the possibility of waiver or reduction under the Act (Reg. 26).\n\n\nWho this affects and who decides\n\n- People required to report deaths: authorised officers (police, detention staff etc.) in custody cases remain responsible (Reg. 7(2)); funded providers of daily independent living support to SDA residents are newly designated responsible persons for certain SDA residents (Reg. 8(b)). Those responsible people must report deaths where required under the Act.\n\n- Coroners and the State Coroner (and, where specified, the Chief Judge of the County Court) are the officials who administer oaths/affirmations, issue restriction notices, authorise investigating officers, and control access to registers and places (Reg. 13–20, Reg. 21–25).\n\n- The Director of the Institute may approve, in writing, a registered medical practitioner as a pathologist if they have suitable qualifications and experience (Reg. 6(b)).\n\n- Requesters of coronial documents pay the copy fees unless the fee is waived (Reg. 26; section 118 of the Act).\n\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical implications)\n\n- The Regulations implement the Act by making procedural details predictable and uniform (Reg. 1). The declared policy effect is to ensure coronial duties (reporting, investigating, record-keeping) operate with consistent forms, defined responsibilities and limited fees.\n\n- Concrete effects include: clearer reporting lines for particular classes of death (including newly-covered SDA resident deaths), standardised notices and summons forms (which assist legal compliance), and prescribed registers which support record-keeping and limited public transparency.\n\n\nTesting the stated purposes against costs, incentives and trade-offs\n\n- Administrative/financial costs: expanding the class of \"person placed in custody or care\" to include certain SDA residents (Reg. 7(1)(d)) imposes a direct compliance task on funded daily-support providers (Reg. 8(b)(i)–(ii)). Those providers must have processes to detect and report deaths to coroners, which may require staff training and record systems. The Regulations cap document-copy fees for outsiders but do not remove resource costs of maintaining registers and processing reports (Reg. 21–26).\n\n- Workload and capacity trade-offs: more mandatory reporting (by adding SDA residents) increases coronial intake and administrative workload, with potential effects on investigation and inquest timetabling. The Regulations do not allocate additional funding in themselves; they set duties that the Coroners Court and relevant service providers must absorb.\n\n- Incentives and behaviour: naming funded support providers as \"responsible persons\" gives those providers an incentive to report promptly when a death has not been reported, and an incentive to keep records showing reasonable grounds for reporting or believing a death was reported. Failure to comply with stated requirements can attract penalties (see Form 4 warnings referencing section 42 and maximum fines).\n\n- Privacy and information handling: prescribed registers require recording personal details (name, date of death, cause, coroner who made the order). Inspection of those registers is restricted (usually by coroner order or during business hours), but the rules create a routine flow of personal data through court systems; data protection and administrative safeguards matter for implementation (Reg. 21–25).\n\n- Discretion and implementation risk: certain approvals are left to officials (e.g. Director of the Institute approving a pathologist in Reg. 6(b); coroner ordering access restrictions or register inspection). That central discretion is necessary for operational flexibility but creates a risk of uneven application unless guided by administrative practice.\n\n\nWho pays, who decides, and how behaviour changes (short summary)\n\n- Who pays: requesters of copies generally pay per-page fees (Reg. 26); responsible persons (police, detention authorities, or funded SDA support providers) bear compliance costs of reporting and record-keeping (Reg. 7–8); the Coroners Court bears administrative costs of maintaining registers and processing notices.\n\n- Who decides: State Coroner/Coroner/Chief Commissioner of Police decide access restrictions and make many operational orders; the Director of the Institute may approve pathologists (Reg. 6, Reg. 13–20, Reg. 21–25).\n\n- Behaviour changes expected: mandated reporting by more defined responsible persons; use of prescribed forms and standard notices; production of documents and statements on coroner request; upkeep of and limited access to prescribed registers; payment of capped copy fees.\n\n\nKey concrete references: Reg. 5 (definitions), Reg. 6 (pathologist), Reg. 7–8 (who is a person placed in custody or care and who must report), Reg. 9–11 and Reg. 16 (prescribed particulars and information), Reg. 13–20 and Schedule 1 (forms), Reg. 21–26 (registers and fees)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: operational details for coronial investigations. The 2022 amendments expanded the definition of 'person placed in custody or care' to include SDA residents, but this was a targeted extension of existing protections rather than scope creep. The instrument has not grown beyond its intended function of supporting the Coroners Act 2008."},"complexity_factors":["Short length (26 regulations plus forms)","Minimal cross-referencing (primarily references back to the parent Coroners Act 2008)","Straightforward structure: definitions, specific obligations, forms, registers, fees","Limited conditional logic (mostly 'if known' qualifiers for optional information)","Forms are prescriptive templates rather than complex procedural rules","Only 5 defined terms in regulation 5, with 2 added by later amendment"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set out the practical rules for how coroners investigate deaths and fires in Victoria. They work alongside the main Coroners Act 2008.\n\n**What the regulations do:**\n\n*   **Define who counts as being in \"custody or care\"** – This includes people in police or prison custody, people injured while being arrested, and (since a 2022 update) people living in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA).\n*   **Set reporting obligations** – They specify who must report deaths of people in custody or care, and what details must be provided to coroners.\n*   **Provide standard forms** – They include templates for things like restricting access to a death scene, summoning witnesses, requiring documents, and arrest warrants for contempt of court.\n*   **Set up record-keeping** – They require the Coroners Court to keep registers tracking authorisations to investigate deaths and fires, exhumations, witness certificates, and orders restricting publication of findings.\n*   **Specify fees** – They cap copying fees at $1 per black-and-white page and $2 per colour page.\n*   **Clarify roles** – They define who qualifies as a pathologist for autopsies and which nurses can assist with removing human tissue.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n\n*   Families dealing with a death investigation\n*   Police, prison officers, and disability support workers (who must report certain deaths)\n*   Witnesses summoned to coronial inquests\n*   Coroners Court staff\n\n**Why it matters:**\n\nThese regulations ensure deaths in custody or care are properly reported and investigated, protect the integrity of death scenes, and give families clear information about the coronial process. The 2022 amendments specifically expanded protections to vulnerable people in disability accommodation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019","history":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/coroners-regulations-2019/documents"}}