Guidelines for granting access by media
representatives to coronial exhibits
In order to promote State-wide uniformity and to assist journalists in the accurate, informed and balanced reporting of the Court's activities, the following guidelines have been issued by the Chief Magistrate to regulate access by members of the media to exhibits and copies of exhibits:
- Notwithstanding the provisions of these guidelines, the Magistrate who has primary responsibility for the conduct of a particular coronial investigation or inquest has an overriding discretion to grant or refuse access to exhibits and copies of exhibits by representatives of the media.
- Access may be granted subject to conditions in a particular case:
- Availability may, in appropriate cases, be subject to the consent of the senior next of kin.
- No exhibit will be released for publication if it is likely to cause grief or distress or otherwise intrude unreasonably upon the privacy of individuals, for example, photographs of bodies, wrecks or suicide notes.
- A factor favouring access is that it would assist the Court to discharge its role of seeking to prevent the recurrence of circumstances that could cause death or injury.
- Access will not be granted to exhibits or copies of exhibits in cases of suicide or suspected suicide except in exceptional cases.
- Access will not be granted to exhibits or copies of exhibits if the administration of justice is thereby likely to be placed at risk.
- It is expected that the publication of material released by the Court will occur in compliance with all relevant professional standards and guidelines of the media generally and of the particular organisation concerned.
- Requests for access should be directed to the appropriate Coroners Office of the Court.
These Guidelines are subject to review by the Chief Magistrate and may be altered at any time.