Inquests and Inquiries

We strive for a coronial outcome that is just and will save lives in the future. The quest for meaning of an unwelcome death is foremost. Our coronial lawyers possess extensive experience in representing the families who have lost loved ones and are highly equipped to identify the causes and contributors of a death and assist the court in making preventive recommendations. We also recognise how important public disclosure is to the coronial process and often advocate our client's case through the media to secure a public inquiry or inquest.

Inquests and inquiries that our coronial practice has been involved in:

• The Thredbo Landslide Inquest which resulted in major reforms to regulations governing road and building engineering on unstable terrain.
• The Inquiry into the Deaths Aboard HMAS Westralia which led to systemic reforms in naval engineering practice and contract supervision.
• The inquest into the deaths of two Canberra men in Lake George which led to recommendations against recreational boating on Lake George.
• An inquest into the death of a Canberra school boy which focussed attention on risk management issues in school play grounds in resulted in widespread reforms to tree maintenance in the ACT.
• An inquest into the death of a Canberra man which led to recommendations that the ACT Ambulance Service install GPS navigational equipment.
• An inquiry into the crash of F-111 Maritime/Aircraft in the South China Sea which resulted in a settlement that obviated a lengthy inquest.
• An inquest into the implosion of the Royal Canberra Hospital which produced wide ramifications for government and private industry including tenders and workplace safety.
• An inquest into a death and other injuries when a vessel collided with the Narooma breakwater.

Contact: Bernard Collaery/Jolan Yik-Paal

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