Mr. Quigley questions the Attorney General about delays in the Andrew Allan inquest, alleging misrepresentation. Mr. Porter defends the timeline, citing historical norms and funding issues under the previous government.

AnsweredQoN 614Legislative Assembly
Asked
21 September 2011
Portfolio
Attorney General

QuestionView source ↗

NORTHAm HOSPITAL — ANDREW ALLAN — CORONIAL INQUEST
I have a supplementary question. Given that the medical and police reports into this incident were completed six months ago, will the Attorney General now apologise to the Allan family for misrepresenting the real reason for the delays in an inquest and ensure that it is progressed as a matter of priority? Mr C.C. PORTER

AnswerView source ↗

Member, it is not simply the completion of the report; it is the State Coroner’s office’s consideration of the report, which may have been completed. The point is that from the period of death to the compilation of the reports to the consideration of the reports and the decision that fundamentally goes to the inquest, a 12-month period, whilst very difficult for families, is not historically unusual. It is about what is expected and I am informed that it is better than what was occurring under the previous government and is better than what generally occurs in other states. One of the reasons for that increase — Mr J.R. Quigley : The Christmas Island inquest took two or three months! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Christmas Island inquest was an incredibly serious, difficult and complicated matter, and it took some time and resources being allocated away from the Coroner’s Court. Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Mr C.C. PORTER replied: Member, it is not simply the completion of the report; it is the State Coroner’s office’s consideration of the report, which may have been completed. The point is that from the period of death to the compilation of the reports to the consideration of the reports and the decision that fundamentally goes to the inquest, a 12-month period, whilst very difficult for families, is not historically unusual. It is about what is expected and I am informed that it is better than what was occurring under the previous government and is better than what generally occurs in other states. One of the reasons for that increase — Mr J.R. Quigley : The Christmas Island inquest took two or three months! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Christmas Island inquest was an incredibly serious, difficult and complicated matter, and it took some time and resources being allocated away from the Coroner’s Court. Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Member, it is not simply the completion of the report; it is the State Coroner’s office’s consideration of the report, which may have been completed. The point is that from the period of death to the compilation of the reports to the consideration of the reports and the decision that fundamentally goes to the inquest, a 12-month period, whilst very difficult for families, is not historically unusual. It is about what is expected and I am informed that it is better than what was occurring under the previous government and is better than what generally occurs in other states. One of the reasons for that increase — Mr J.R. Quigley : The Christmas Island inquest took two or three months! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Christmas Island inquest was an incredibly serious, difficult and complicated matter, and it took some time and resources being allocated away from the Coroner’s Court. Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Mr J.R. Quigley : The Christmas Island inquest took two or three months! Mr C.C. PORTER : The Christmas Island inquest was an incredibly serious, difficult and complicated matter, and it took some time and resources being allocated away from the Coroner’s Court. Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The Christmas Island inquest was an incredibly serious, difficult and complicated matter, and it took some time and resources being allocated away from the Coroner’s Court. Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Mr J.R. Quigley : Northam Hospital turned the kid away! Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.
Mr C.C. PORTER : The point that the member is making is to somehow turn out of this situation a criticism of the Coroner’s Court and the government’s funding thereof. The point I make to the member is that based on all fair and reasonable standards as to timing, this is a relatively quick period in these very difficult and complicated matters. The backlogs that we have been experiencing are because the member’s government failed to adequately fund that office.

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