In late 2021, ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury announced a pilot restorative reform process for the coronial system, aiming to improve the system’s accessibility, timeliness, and transparency by placing families at its heart.
Today, independent facilitator Alistair Legge submitted his report, Coronial Restorative Reform Process: Overview, Outcomes, Priorities for Next Steps and a Recommendation to Support Future Restorative Reform Processes.
Mr Legge was engaged to identify ways to enhance the reform process and to build on the appointment of a dedicated Coroner for the ACT.
In his report, Mr Legge makes three recommendations:
- Assess whether having a single judicial officer as both Chief Magistrate and Chief Coroner was beneficial for the ACT Magistrates and Coroners Courts, if this model was in the best interests of a timely and effective ACT coronial process and of strengthening the delivery of justice to the ACT community.
- An independent facilitator should continue to support coronial stakeholders and families. As an interim measure, the Attorney-General should establish an independently facilitated joint committee or working group, to advise him on coronial reform and the design of a coronial advisory body.
- Address the gap in support, advocacy, and assistance for all coronial families. Where a matter before the Coroner involves a related criminal matter, Victim Support ACT partially fills this gap. Eligibility for Victim Support ACT services should be extended to all families involved in the coronial process, not just those related to criminal matters.
