❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Attorney General regarding the backlog of WA coronial investigations, seeking data on investigation numbers, timelines, and staffing levels from 2017 to 2024. The Attorney General provides the requested data in tabular form.
AnsweredQoN 1367Legislative Council
Asked
5 November 2024
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
CORONIAL
INVESTIGATIONS — BACKLOG
1367. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the
substantial backlog for determination of WA coronial investigations. For each
of the calendar years 2017 to 2023 inclusive and 2024 —
(1) How many
coronial investigations were undertaken in WA?
(2) What was the
median time for commencement to conclusion of coronial investigations?
(3)
What have been the apportioned staffing levels operating under the umbrella of
the Coroner's Court of Western Australia?
INVESTIGATIONS — BACKLOG
1367. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the
substantial backlog for determination of WA coronial investigations. For each
of the calendar years 2017 to 2023 inclusive and 2024 —
(1) How many
coronial investigations were undertaken in WA?
(2) What was the
median time for commencement to conclusion of coronial investigations?
(3)
What have been the apportioned staffing levels operating under the umbrella of
the Coroner's Court of Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Attorney General
and was correct as at 17 October. The answer is primarily in tabular form, so I
seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following material
to be incorporated.]
(1)
2017/18
2,293
2018/19
2,480
2019/20
2,554
2020/21
2,920
2021/22
2,938
2022/23
3,275
2023/24
3,308
Data is
recorded by Financial Year rather than calendar year. For this purpose, the
number of coronial investigations undertaken each financial year is defined as
the number of reportable deaths lodged during that financial year.
�(2)
2017/18
52
weeks
2018/19
47
weeks
2019/20
42
weeks
2020/21
39
weeks
2021/22
45
weeks
2022/23
46
weeks
2023/24
56
weeks
For
this purpose, the median time is reported for each reportable death finalised
in each financial year.
�(3)
30
June 2017
4
Coroners, 23 FTE
30
June 2018
4
Coroners, 23 FTE
30
June 2019
4.5
Coroners (Includes 0.5 temporary), 23 FTE
30
June 2020
4 Coroners,
23 FTE
30
June 2021
4
Coroners, 25 FTE (Includes 2 x temporary FTE)
(An
additional 0.5 Coroner was engaged during the FY)
30
June 2022
4
Coroners, 25 FTE
30
June 2023
�4
Coroners, 31 FTE (Includes 6 x temporary FTE)
30
June 2024
4
Coroners, 31 FTE (Includes 5 x temporary FTE)
�Staffing
levels are reported as at 30 June of each financial year.
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Attorney General
and was correct as at 17 October. The answer is primarily in tabular form, so I
seek leave to have it incorporated into Hansard .
[Leave granted for the following material
to be incorporated.]
(1)
2017/18
2,293
2018/19
2,480
2019/20
2,554
2020/21
2,920
2021/22
2,938
2022/23
3,275
2023/24
3,308
Data is
recorded by Financial Year rather than calendar year. For this purpose, the
number of coronial investigations undertaken each financial year is defined as
the number of reportable deaths lodged during that financial year.
�(2)
2017/18
52
weeks
2018/19
47
weeks
2019/20
42
weeks
2020/21
39
weeks
2021/22
45
weeks
2022/23
46
weeks
2023/24
56
weeks
For
this purpose, the median time is reported for each reportable death finalised
in each financial year.
�(3)
30
June 2017
4
Coroners, 23 FTE
30
June 2018
4
Coroners, 23 FTE
30
June 2019
4.5
Coroners (Includes 0.5 temporary), 23 FTE
30
June 2020
4 Coroners,
23 FTE
30
June 2021
4
Coroners, 25 FTE (Includes 2 x temporary FTE)
(An
additional 0.5 Coroner was engaged during the FY)
30
June 2022
4
Coroners, 25 FTE
30
June 2023
�4
Coroners, 31 FTE (Includes 6 x temporary FTE)
30
June 2024
4
Coroners, 31 FTE (Includes 5 x temporary FTE)
�Staffing
levels are reported as at 30 June of each financial year.
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