Vallianos v Coroners Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
Forbes J
14/02/2023
[2023] VSC 48
Administrative law — Judicial review — Coroner — Where deceased died without a valid will — Test to be applied by Coroner to decide whether a person has a claim for release of the deceased’s body as executor — Whether Coroner has discretion in determining who has better claim to release of the body — Coroners Act 2008 (Vic), ss 3, 48 — Wills Act 1997 (Vic), ss 7, 9
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities — Equality before the law — Privacy — Freedom of association — Inconsistency of law with human rights — Claim for custody of body of deceased person — Whether s 48 of the Coroners Act 2008 (Vic) and definition of ‘senior next of kin’ inconsistent with human rights protected under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) — Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), ss 7, 8, 13, 16
Read the judgment here.