74Power of coroner to award costs

74 Power of coroner to award costs

(1) Subject to subsection (2), every person appearing before the Coroners Court who is represented by an Australian lawyer is to bear their own costs in relation to the inquest.

(2) If, in a particular case, a coroner is of the opinion that a person (the first person) has acted unreasonably during an investigation or inquest, the coroner may order the first person to pay all, or a specified part, of the expenses (other than economic loss) reasonably incurred by another person (the second person)—

(a) as a result of the unreasonable actions of the first person; and

(b) that relate to the participation of the second person in the investigation or inquest.

(3) If a person is awarded costs under subsection (2), the costs may be recovered by the person as a debt due to the person in a court of competent jurisdiction.

S. 74A inserted by No. 69/2009 s. 54(Sch. Pt 1 item 11.4).