It is well established in the UK, and recognised by the UN Human Rights Committee, that coronial inquests give effect to the right to life in their conduct of investigations into lethal incidents. The impact of domestic human rights statutes on the coronial function in Australia has so far been canvassed in a series of coronial decisions in Victoria and one decision in Queensland. There are divergences in those decisions and the position in Queensland cannot be described as a settled one. The issue is yet to be ventilated in the ACT.
The Human Rights Law Association is pleased to convene a panel session on the relevance of human rights to the coronial function, to discuss these developments and the impact human rights statutes might have on the scope of matters to be investigated at inquests, the findings that might be made with respect to the actions of public entities, and the framing of preventative recommendations.
Speakers: Klaire Coles, Coroner Simon McGregor, Bill Mitchell, Paula Morreau KC with Chair Coroner Megan Fairweather