Jo Haylen MP has joined Opposition colleagues in labelling the dramatic drop in the number of coronial inquests being conducted under the Liberal Government as ‘unacceptable’, forcing families to wait much longer to find out what happened to their loved ones.

The number of inquests conducted in 2017 was just 84 when compared to almost 300 held in 2011.

The number of deaths reported increased by almost 1,000 between 2011 and 2017.

Shadow Attorney-General Paul Lynch blamed chronic underfunding of the NSW Coroner’s Court for the paltry number of suspicious deaths being investigated, as the coronial jurisdiction simply cannot afford to hold the amount required.

Former State Coroner Michael Barnes told a Parliamentary Committee in March that NSW spends much less than its state counterparts- $5 million compared to $7.5 million in Queensland and $12.2 in Victoria. Mr Barnes, who is now the NSW Ombudsman, told the committee that more resources allocated to the Coroner’s Court would ‘undoubtedly’ help to reduce delays and that more matters would go to inquest.

NSW Police, the Police Association and the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission have also expressed considerable concern at the low number of inquests being held.

Quotes attributable to Jo Haylen, Member for Summer Hill 

"Here is a clear example of how funding cuts have a real impact on the well-being of our community. 

“These are more than statistics - each number is a grieving family left to live the rest of their lives without certainty about what has happened to their loved ones." 

Quotes attributable to Shadow Attorney General Paul Lynch 

“Chronic under resourcing of the Coroner’s Court by the Government has led to significantly fewer inquests being held.

“This means more families and loved ones not having the opportunity to find out what happened.

“It also means fewer opportunities for Coroner’s recommendations to rectify problems.

“Government underfunding of the Coroner’s Court does a disservice to the community. It reflects a completely wrong set of priorities.”