❓ Question on Notice regarding the backlog of cases in the WA Coroners Court, including the length of time cases have been waiting and the agencies from which reports are outstanding. The answer reveals significant delays and limitations in data tracking.
AnsweredQoN 4429Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many cases are currently with the Coroners Court awaiting processing? (2) Of the cases in (1), how many have been waiting: (a) less than six months; (b) between six and 12 months; (c) between 12 and 18 months; (d) between 18 and 24 months; and (e) more than 24 months? (3) For each case waiting more than 12 months: (a) how many are awaiting reports from external agencies; (b) of the cases in (a), which agencies; and (c) what is the average report time of the agency identified in (b)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 November 2016
Response time
36 days
(1) 2,224 open coronial cases State-wide.
(2) (a) 1,053 (b) 698 (c) 237 (d) 90 (e) 146
(3) (a) 305 (b) Western Australia Police; WorkSafe; Department of Health; Department of Correct Services; Department of Mines and Petroleum; Australian Transport Safety Board; Department of Commerce - Energy Safety Division and Department of Local Government and Communities. (c) The current case management system within the Coroner’s Court is unable to identify individual cases awaiting reports from the agencies mentioned in (3)(b). This exercise would require an investment of resources to undertake a manual examination of the 2,224 cases currently on hand. Having said this, experience has demonstrated a range from 3 months to 3 years depending on the agency and complexity of the case.
Note 1. The figures above represent the total number of all open coronial cases from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2016.
Note 2. The above data has been sourced from the National Coroner’s Information System.
(2) (a) 1,053 (b) 698 (c) 237 (d) 90 (e) 146
(3) (a) 305 (b) Western Australia Police; WorkSafe; Department of Health; Department of Correct Services; Department of Mines and Petroleum; Australian Transport Safety Board; Department of Commerce - Energy Safety Division and Department of Local Government and Communities. (c) The current case management system within the Coroner’s Court is unable to identify individual cases awaiting reports from the agencies mentioned in (3)(b). This exercise would require an investment of resources to undertake a manual examination of the 2,224 cases currently on hand. Having said this, experience has demonstrated a range from 3 months to 3 years depending on the agency and complexity of the case.
Note 1. The figures above represent the total number of all open coronial cases from 1 January 2000 to 30 September 2016.
Note 2. The above data has been sourced from the National Coroner’s Information System.
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