Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you, Chair. Minister, I have here the final report of the independent review, reportable deaths, and death reporting processes in Tasmanian public hospitals, which we’ll talk a bit more about in health. But this relates to the actions of the coroner’s office. So the review found significant issues in death reporting practices, particularly concerning the actions of a former staff member of the Launceston General Hospital. But it makes the observation that the coroner’s office was contacted on several occasions to discuss general issues of policy and practice both historically and currently in relation to the interface between the Tasmania health service and the coroner’s office. Unfortunately, no one from the coroner’s office was available to meet with the panel. Minister, given the seriousness of the allegations relating to Dr Renshaw over his time at the LGH, do you agree that it is not good enough for the coroner’s office not to cooperate with such a significant review of the Tasmanian health service?
Mr BARNETT – Well, first of all, thank you for the question, and as you’ve indicated, it’s a very important matter and a sensitive matter and that’s why the government did initiate that independent review of those reportable deaths. And I’m sure in the health space later today, we could share more about that, and that highlights how importantly we do take this. It’s an independent review, and it needs to be undertaken in a very thorough and comprehensive, which is certainly is.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, it’s done.
Mr BARNETT – Well, in terms of the reportable deaths, that’s ongoing.
Ms O’CONNOR – The follow on from the review, you mean.
Mr BARNETT – Yes.
Ms O’CONNOR – The recommendation to refer 29 deaths be reported to the coroner, that process, you mean.
Mr BARNETT – Yes, yes. That’s right. But the Health department can say more about that later today, but what I’m saying is in terms of the coroner, that’s an independent entity of government. And myself as Attorney‑General, and of course, the acting secretary can speak to it. I do meet with the chief coroner – I have met with her in the last couple of months, obviously raised these important matters.
Ms O’CONNOR – Did you raise this specific matter, this criticism?
Mr BARNETT – I won’t go into the details, but I have raised those important matters, a range of matters that we discuss with the chief coroner. I meet with the chief magistrate, of course, as well on a regular basis as I meet with the chief justice as well on a regular basis. So, but we just must respect the independence of the chief magistrate and the chief coroner. I will pass to the acting secretary to add to that to assist the honourable member.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, I am actually – that is enough information. If you can’t go into the details of how the coroner’s office responded to this very significant review, given that you have regular meetings with the coroner –
Mr BARNETT – Well, I can’t. I’m more than happy to check with the acting secretary if the acting secretary could assist.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, if there’s new information relating to the question.
Mr BARNETT – I’m trying to assist the committee.
Ms O’CONNOR – Yes.
Mr BARNETT – So we’ll do a quick check and see if that’s possible.
Ms BOURNE – Thanks, Attorney‑General, through you. No additional information, noting the coroner’s independence, but I guess, in a general sense, discussions that we have through the deputy secretary and the administrator of courts, the chief coroner, and the chief magistrate where we may identify where processes administratively may be improved to the betterment of services to the public and other agencies which they serve is an ongoing discussion. I don’t have anything more to add on this particular.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you very much. Is there any protocol, or do you think there should be a protocol between the Coroner’s office and government agencies where agencies are seeking information or advice from the Coroner’s office because this is not actually, by any measure, good enough when you’ve got the THS review team several times, trying to initiate a discussion about this review and not hearing anything from the Coroner’s office, which we don’t know that may have impacted on the outcomes of the review. I ask, Attorney‑General, if you will commit to taking this up with the chief coroner as a specific subject matter and seeking some understanding about how we can make sure this doesn’t happen again?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you very much. I think the acting secretary has outlined, I think, very well, the relationship.
Ms O’CONNOR – I asked you a question, though.
Mr BARNETT – And that’s what I’m just – as a, you know, prelude to my answer, indicated that I think with the department working cooperatively and collaboratively on how we can improve processes for the public, and that the courts respond accordingly while at all times preserving their independence and highlighting the importance of that, certainly, as Attorney‑General, I see that as important. I have, in the past, raised those concerns, and will continue to raise those concerns, and indeed, any other challenges and opportunities on how we can improve the system for members of the Tasmanian public.
CHAIR – All right. Thank you.
Ms O’CONNOR – Well, you need to reassure the committee, I think, that this sort of thing won’t happen again.
CHAIR – Thank you. Ms Webb.
