Budget Provides Funding for Three New Coroner Positions

• The 2023-24 State Budget has provided funding for three new coroners.
• The new coroners are in response to an increased workload over the past decade.

The Palaszczuk Government is funding two new coroners and making a third temporary position permanent as it increases key justice services through the 2023-24 Budget.

Recent research has revealed a 27 percent increase in reportable deaths handed to the coroner’s court over the past ten years.

To address this demand, $34 million dollars will be injected over the next four years into the Queensland Court operation ensuring the coroners court functions efficiently and effectively.

The new positions also aim to reduce backlogs, improve timeliness, and provide better delivery of trauma-informed services.

Coroners undertake thorough and often complex investigations once they have been assigned a reportable death, they’re required to establish the identity of the deceased, how, when and where they died, and the medical cause of death.

For these reasons the coroner’s role is extremely important to Queensland’s justice system often providing reports and recommendations to prevent similar types of death occurring again.

These recommendations also have wider ramifications in helping to improve general community safety.

For example, inquest findings have recommended the Palaszczuk government fund key trials like embedding police service domestic and family violence specialist officers into DFV centres.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Yvette D’Ath:

“The coroners court is a key component of our justice system; these three positions ensure it functions effectively and caters to growing demand as Queenslanders expect.”

“There were half a million views of the ‘findings and inquests’ page on the coroners court website last financial year and a 25 per cent increase in media inquiries highlighting both the interest and importance of the role the court performs”.

“The new coroners positions ensure investigations and inquests can be completed in a timely manner and that families involved get the best possible service through what undoubtedly is a traumatic time for them.”

ENDS

Media contact: Jesse Grayson 0428873850