❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks information on mining accident investigations, inquest timelines, and access to investigation reports for families. The Minister provides data on investigation and inquest times, clarifies the process for report release via the Coroner, and cites legal restrictions on direct release to families.
AnsweredQoN 734Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(b) a serious incident?
(3) What is the average time taken for a mining inquest to be held? (4) Is the investigation report prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy in the case of a fatality made available to the workers family and/or solicitor? (5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister
(3) What is the average time taken for a mining inquest to be held? (4) Is the investigation report prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy in the case of a fatality made available to the workers family and/or solicitor? (5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 October 2000
Response time
27 days
(1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(4) Is the investigation report prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy in the case of a fatality made available to the workers family and/or solicitor? (5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(4) Is the investigation report prepared by the Department of Minerals and Energy in the case of a fatality made available to the workers family and/or solicitor? (5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(5) Will the Minister specify the requirements of the Department in relation to this? (6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
(6) If the report and other documents are not made available to the family, will the Minister state the reason why? Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
Answered on 11 October 2000 The Minister Replied: (1)(a) From analysis of the last 22 currently complete fatality investigations the average time taken by the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) before an investigation report into a fatality is released to the Coroner is 5 months. (1)(b) DME does not keep statistics on the length of time taken to investigate serious incidents. Depending upon the exact nature of any given incident, the time taken to investigate could vary widely. (2) Inspectors are made available to advise on the timeframe if this is what is desired. In addition, an information booklet on the mining fatality investigation process and the Coronial inquiry process has been prepared by DME for use by bereaved families. This booklet clearly lays out the procedures adopted, the various agencies involved and their roles in the process and the time likely to be taken by the Inspector to complete the investigation process. (3) From an analysis of the last nine mining fatalities into which an inquest has been held, the average time taken to hold an inquest is 16.5 months. (This equates to 11.5 months after the DME investigation report is forwarded to the Coroner). (4) The investigation report prepared by DME is provided to the Coroner, who may make it available to any person with a sufficient interest, along with any other material, such as the Police report, that he may consider to be appropriate. (5)&(6) The Inspector who investigates and prepares a report into a fatal accident may, in accordance with Section 26(4) of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994, release to the Coroner a report covering the investigation. Apart from this, the Inspector is prevented from releasing information relating to any accident investigation by the provisions of Section 26(2) of the Act.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.