❓ Hon. Alison Xamon asks the Attorney General about the number and age of open coronial cases in WA, focusing on delays and external agency involvement. The Attorney General provides detailed statistics on case numbers, timelines, and reasons for delays.
AnsweredQoN 3070Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How
many open coronial cases are there currently? (2) Of
the cases from (a), how many have been open for: (a) less
than six months; (b) between
six and twelve months; (c) between
12 and 18 months; (d) between
18 and 24 months; (e) more than 24 months; (f) between 24 and 36 months; and (g) longer than 36 months? (3) How
long have each of the cases from (2)(g) been open? (4) For
cases waiting longer than 12 months: (a) how
many are awaiting reports from external agencies; (b) in relation to (4)(a): (i) what is the longest case time and what is the reason for the delay in the external agency providing its report; and (ii) what is the average report time for each of the following external agencies: (A) Western Australia Police; (B) PathWest; (C) ChemCentre; and (D) individual medical practitioners; (c) how
many are inquest cases; (d) how
many are deaths in custody; (e) how many are awaiting judicial review and
determination; and (f) how many are suspected suicides?
many open coronial cases are there currently? (2) Of
the cases from (a), how many have been open for: (a) less
than six months; (b) between
six and twelve months; (c) between
12 and 18 months; (d) between
18 and 24 months; (e) more than 24 months; (f) between 24 and 36 months; and (g) longer than 36 months? (3) How
long have each of the cases from (2)(g) been open? (4) For
cases waiting longer than 12 months: (a) how
many are awaiting reports from external agencies; (b) in relation to (4)(a): (i) what is the longest case time and what is the reason for the delay in the external agency providing its report; and (ii) what is the average report time for each of the following external agencies: (A) Western Australia Police; (B) PathWest; (C) ChemCentre; and (D) individual medical practitioners; (c) how
many are inquest cases; (d) how
many are deaths in custody; (e) how many are awaiting judicial review and
determination; and (f) how many are suspected suicides?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 September 2020
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Attorney General
Response time
9 days
(1) 2348
(2) (a) 1219
(b) 589
(c) 252
(d) 111
(e) 177
(f) 92
(g) 85
(3) There are 85 cases ranging from 36 months to 215 months in age. The oldest group of cases that exceed 60 months are predominantly cold case murder cases that are pending and delayed awaiting Police investigation.
(4) (a) 32
(b) (i) 215 months, with this case being unidentified bones in the South Hedland Coronial Jurisdiction.
(ii) (A) 25.6 months
(B) 25.6 months
(C) 40.9 months
(D) It is not possible to identify electronically if a case has been delayed pending specialist medical practitioners reports.
(c) 118
(d) 38
(e) 11
(f) 25
(2) (a) 1219
(b) 589
(c) 252
(d) 111
(e) 177
(f) 92
(g) 85
(3) There are 85 cases ranging from 36 months to 215 months in age. The oldest group of cases that exceed 60 months are predominantly cold case murder cases that are pending and delayed awaiting Police investigation.
(4) (a) 32
(b) (i) 215 months, with this case being unidentified bones in the South Hedland Coronial Jurisdiction.
(ii) (A) 25.6 months
(B) 25.6 months
(C) 40.9 months
(D) It is not possible to identify electronically if a case has been delayed pending specialist medical practitioners reports.
(c) 118
(d) 38
(e) 11
(f) 25
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