New laws reducing red tape and streamlining the operation of the NSW Coroner’s Office are to be put to Parliament by the Attorney General, Mark Speakman and Minister for health, Brad Hazzard.
The Ministers said the planned changes would allow families who lost loved ones in unexpected or unexplained circumstances to receive the answers they needed sooner.
“Around 60 per cent of all cases reported to the NSW Coroner each year are the result of a natural death,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This amendment to the Act will remove the requirement to report a death to the Coroner where the deceased had not seen a doctor in the six months prior to death.”
Mr Speakman said the proposed changes would reduce the number of unnecessary post mortem examinations and referrals to the Coroner and would improve timeframes for other coronial investigations.
“These amendments will remove unnecessary red tape enabling families to have their deceased loved ones returned to them sooner, so they can grieve and lay them to rest,” Mr Speakman said.
“Additionally, and importantly, the change will also bring NSW in line with other States.”
He said a second amendment would allow a forensic pathologist to undertake preliminary examinations of deceased people without the need for a direction from the Coroner.
He said the obligation under the Coroners Act 2009 to report unnatural, violent or suspicious deaths and sudden deaths from unknown causes would remain untouched.
Mr Speakman said further opportunities for appropriate ways to improve the coronial process were currently being explored.