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Coroners Court of Victoria Privacy Statement

The Coroners Court of Victoria operates independently, impartially and fairly within a legal framework, while at the same time respecting the dignity and privacy of the person who has died and acknowledging the rights, needs and privacy of the bereaved family.

This document outlines the arrangements made within the Coroners Court of Victoria to comply with the provisions of the Information Privacy Act 2000 (the Privacy Act).

Information Privacy Act 2000

The Privacy Act outlines the arrangements to be made for the proper and appropriate handling of private information collected, held and exchanged by certain bodies. The Act prescribes certain exemptions and is without force or effect to the extent of any inconsistency with any other Act.

Exemption from Privacy Act Judicial or Quasi-Judicial Functions

A general exemption to the provisions of the Privacy Act applies to Courts and Tribunals pursuant to section 10:
Nothing in this Act or any IPP (Information Privacy Principle) applies in respect of the collection, holding management, use, disclosure or transfer of personal information
(a) in relation to its or his or her judicial or quasi-judicial functions, by:

(b) in relation to those matters which relate to the judicial or quasi-judicial functions of the court or tribunal, by:

This means that the functions of the Coroners Court of Victoria and those Magistrates' Courts when exercising jurisdiction under the Coroners Act 1985, are exempt in relation to their judicial or quasi-judicial functions (ie. normal business operations).

Information Rules applying to Judicial or Quasi-Judicial Functions

The rules governing the information aspects of the judicial function are to be found in the Coroner's Act 1985, and the rules and regulations pursuant thereto which govern public access to, confidentiality, and suppression of court records and hearings

Personal Information caught by the Privacy Act

Administrative functions of the court (e.g. Human Resource functions) are caught by the Privacy Act and the court and its staff are required to comply with the Act in relation to administrative functions.
In compliance with the Act, the Coroners Court of Victoria manages non-exempt personal information in accordance with the ten Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) detailed in Schedule 1 of the Act.

Coroners Court of Victoria Information Privacy Contact

Queries and comments on privacy matters should be addressed in the first instance to:

Principal Registrar
Coroners Court of Victoria
Phone: 9684 4353
Fax: 9686 1506

Practices and Procedures in the Coroners Court of Victoria Relating to Court records, access to Ccourt records, inquest hearings and other relevant information.

Court of Public Record

The Coroners Court of Victoria is a Court of public record. All proceedings are to be conducted in open court unless the Court makes an order under section 47 of the Coroner's Act 1985 excluding all or any persons.

Searching the Records

A record is kept of each investigation into a death or fire and of such other matters as are directed by the Coroner's Act 1985 or the Regulations.

Unless otherwise ordered by a coroner, any person may inspect any part of any file on completion of the investigation.
Prior to completion, a coroner may make available any statements or part of a file, that the Coroner intends to consider, to any person with a sufficient interest.

Audio Record of Proceedings

Any person may, upon completion of the investigation or at any other time upon the direction of a coroner, obtain a copy of the audio record upon payment of the relevant fee.

Subpoenaed Files Files Produced to Court

Files subpoenaed for a Inquest/Court hearing are produced to the Registrar or the Court (not to another party).
Subpoenaed files or files produced to the court for use in an investigation, cannot be inspected without an order of a coroner.

Personal Information Not Subject To Exemption

As to the handling of personal information which is not subject to the exemption provisions of the Act, the Coroners Court of Victoria complies with the ten Information Privacy Principles (IPPs) contained in the Act as follows:

Principle 1 - Collection

The Coroners Court of Victoria will only collect personal information where it is necessary for one or more of its functions.

Principle 2 - Use and Disclosure

The Coroners Court of Victoria does not disclose personal information unless the next of kin has consented to the use or disclosure or except in circumstances where disclosure is authorised by law.

Principle 3 - Data Quality

The Coroners Court of Victoria makes all reasonable effort to ensure that the personal information it collects is accurate, complete, up to date and relevant to its functions and activities.

Principle 4 - Data Security

The Coroners Court of Victoria takes all reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of the personal information and the privacy of individuals obtained from the information that is collected.

Principle 5 - Openness

The Coroners Court of Victoria privacy policy is available to anyone on request. When requested, the Coroners Court of Victoria will take reasonable steps to let a person know, generally, what sort of personal information it holds, for what purposes, and how it collects, holds, uses and discloses that information.

Principle 6 - Access and Correction

The Coroners Court of Victoria will, upon request and subject to the exceptions stated in the Privacy Act, provide an individual about whom it holds information or their next of kin (if applicable) with access to the information. The next of kin have a right to seek access to personal information and make corrections. If the Coroners Court of Victoria holds personal information that the next of kin thinks is not accurate, complete or up to date, the Coroners Court of Victoria will take reasonable steps to correct the information. If access to the information is denied, the reasons for denial of access, or refusal to correct personal information, will be provided.

Principle 7 - Unique Identifiers

A unique identifier is usually a number assigned to an individual in order to identify the person for the purposes of an organisation's operations. Tax file numbers and Driver's Licence numbers are examples. The Coroners Court of Victoria will only assign a unique identifier to a person , use a unique identifier, or ask a person to provide a unique identifier, when this is necessary to enable the Coroners Court of Victoria to carry out any of its functions efficiently.

Principle 8 - Anonymity

The Coroners Court of Victoria gives next of kin the option of not identifying themselves when entering into transactions, if that is practical, lawful and feasible.

Principle 9 - Transborder Data Flows

The Coroners Act 1985 enables the coroner to use any of his or her powers to assist a coroner in another State or Territory investigate a death or fire. Personal information will only be transferred out of Victoria if the recipient protects privacy under standards similar to the Victorian IPPs, or for use in that State or Territory according to its' laws.

Principle 10 - Sensitive Information

The Coroners Court of Victoria does not collect sensitive information which is irrelevant to the investigation of a death or fire without the consent of the next of kin. Sensitive information can be racial or ethnic origin, political views, religious beliefs, sexual preferences, memberships of groups, or criminal records.

Complaints

Complaints may be made to:
Victorian Privacy Commissioner
10-16 Queen Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Phone: 8619 8719
Local Call: 1300 666 444
Fax: 8619 8700
Local Fax: 1300 666 445
Email: enquiries@privacy.vic.gov.au