Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2179

❓ Question regarding the delayed investigatory report and coronial inquest into the death of Maureen Mandijarra, an Aboriginal artist, while in police custody in 2012. The Attorney General provides an update on the report's completion and the expected commencement of the inquest.

AnsweredQoN 2179Legislative Council

Asked

23 October 2014

Member

Hon Robin Chapple

Portfolio

Attorney General

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the death-in-custody of Aboriginal artist Maureen Mandijarra from Balgo, who passed away while being held in a police cell in Broome in 2012, and I ask: (a) why has the mandatory investigatory report still not been delivered two years after her death; (b) what action will the Attorney General take to ensure the report is handed down without further delay, and a coronial inquest completed; (c) what has caused, and is still causing, the delay in the completion of the investigatory report; and (d) has the Attorney General apologised to Ms Mandijarra's family for the delay: (i) if no to (d), why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

18 November 2014

Response time

26 days

(a)-(c) The preparation of an inquest by the State Coroner cannot commence before the completion and receipt of the WA Police investigation report into the death of Ms Mandijarra. This report was received on 17 September 2014.
Preparation for an inquest has commenced and is expected that the inquest will commence by mid-2015.
(d)-(e) Ms Mandijarra's family has been kept up to date on the progress of the case by the Coroner's Court through the family's legal representatives.

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