About the project
The coronial system plays a vital role for families and for the wider community, helping people understand how and why a person died, and identifying ways similar deaths may be prevented. Central to this review are considerations of how to ensure that the coronial jurisdiction can fulfil its purposes efficiently, effectively and compassionately.
The TLRI has released an Issues Paper that considers the operation of the court from the beginning of the process to its conclusion in the making of findings and recommendations by the coroner. It looks at the scope of the deaths that must be reported and the process for reporting deaths and initiating an investigation by the Coronial Division. It considers the scope of an investigation and the powers of the coroner and the circumstances in which an inquest is held. The Issues Paper examines how inquests are conducted, and the findings and recommendations that can be made by a coroner after an investigation. It also considers how features of the coronial process may affect (positively and negatively) bereaved family members and others involved in the coronial process. In total, the Issues Paper asks 167 questions.
A wide range of community perspectives are sought, with the TLRI seeking feedback from people who have had experiences with the Tasmanian coronial system. Please feel free to share this Issues Paper and the other opportunities to participate with your networks. The TLRI is calling for community and expert opinion and invites feedback from members of the community, government and other stakeholders.
The project is being funded by a grant from the Tasmanian Solicitors Guarantee Trust Fund.
All feedback will inform the Institute’s final report, which will ultimately consider whether reform of the current laws and practices is required and, if so, what form that should take.
Review of the Coroners Act Issues Paper (PDF 3.3 MB) Guide to the Issues Paper (PDF 185.9 KB)
How to participate
There are several ways you can share your views:
You can provide a written submission in two ways:
- By filling in the Submission template (PDF 291.2 KB) in writing
The Template can be filled in electronically and sent by email or printed out and filled in manually and posted.
- By providing a more detailed written response to the Issues Paper
The TLRI uses all written submissions and input received to inform its research. Written submissions may be referred to or quoted from in a TLRI final report which will be printed and also published on the TLRI’s website. However, if you let us know that you do not wish your response to be referred to or identified, the TLRI will respect that wish.
Written responses are due by 25 September 2026.
Extracts may also be used in published scholarly articles and/or public media releases. However, if you do not wish your response to be referred to or identified, the TLRI will respect that wish.
Therefore, when making a written submission to the TLRI, please identify how you would like it to be treated based on the following categories:
- Public submission - the TLRI may refer to or quote directly from the submission, and name you as the source of the submission in relevant publications.
- Anonymous submission - the TLRI may refer to or quote directly from the submission in relevant publications but will not identify you as the source of the submission.
- Confidential submission - the TLRI will not refer to or quote directly from the submission but may aggregate information in your submission with other submissions for inclusion in any report or publication. Confidential submissions will only be used to inform the TLRI generally in their deliberations of the particular issue under investigation, and/or provide publishable aggregated statistical data.
Providing a submission is completely voluntary. You are free to withdraw your participation at any time by contacting Jen Boocock on +61 3 6226 2069 or email Law.Reform@utas.edu.au. You can withdraw without explaining. However, once the report has been sent for publication, it will not be possible to remove your comments.
Electronic submissions should be emailed to: Law.Reform@utas.edu.au
Submissions in paper form should be posted to:
Tasmania Law Reform Institute
University of Tasmania
School of Law
PO Box 844
SANDY BAY TAS, 7006
You can complete an anonymous online survey. Participation is entirely voluntary. You don’t need to answer any questions that you don’t want to. This survey forms part of the research project assessing people’s experiences of the Tasmanian coronial system.
A participant information sheet is at the beginning of the survey.
You can leave an anonymous voice-recorded message to share your views by calling +61 3 6226 2069.
This forms part of the research project assessing people’s experiences of the Tasmanian coronial system. Details are provided in the participant information sheet (PDF 143.5 KB).
We will not collect identifying information about you, and we ask that you do not include information that could identify yourself or anyone else.
Your message can be up to 10 minutes long.
You can fill in the expression of interest form to register your interest in taking part in an in-person consultation.
The TLRI is receiving expressions of interest between 18 August 2026 and 1 September 2026.
After this time, you will be contacted by a psychologist from the University of Tasmania School of Psychological Sciences (Professor Kimberley Norris or Dr Amy Washington) to discuss your eligibility to take part.
Final report
The TLRI will publish its findings in a Final Report. This will be presented to the Attorney General, and it will be publicly available on the our website.
Questions about this study?
If you have questions, please feel free to contact the research team: Law.Reform@utas.edu.au .
This study has been approved by the University of Tasmania Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC).
If you have concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, you can contact the Executive Officer of the HREC on (03) 6226 6254 or email human.ethics@utas.edu.au.
The Executive Officer is the person nominated to receive complaints from research participants. Please quote ethics reference number H40404.