This Act amends the Coroners Act 2003 and makes related amendments to the Guardianship and Administration Act 1993. The Act makes the following key changes:

• relieves the obligation on the Coroner to investigate certain reportable deaths as ‘deaths in custody’;
• introduces a certificate system to enable the Coroner to provide protection of privilege to witnesses against self-incrimination and penalty;
• requires the Government to report to Parliament on actions taken in response to recommendations from the Coroner; and
• provides family members with access to legal counsel during Coroner’s Court proceedings and access to records where no inquest is held.