Information relating to people killed with firearms in 2022
Dear WA Coroner's Court,
On 5 February 2023, WA Police Minister, Paul Papalia, announced new gun laws requiring mental health checks for licenced firearm owners.
In his media statement, he said:
"If 20 people were all gunned down in a public place, we would rightfully call it a massacre. The fact is, 20 Western Australians were killed by firearms last year. Police believe mental health may have been a factor in almost 50 per cent of those deaths.
"The extensive, initial round of consultation conducted by Police has revealed strong support for this initiative among farmers, the medical community, and victims of firearms violence. Police will continue to work closely with these important stakeholders to refine the regulations.
Our request is:
1. What documents do you have that corroborate these statements?
2. How many of the perpetrators of the 20 Western Australians killed by firearms last year were licenced? Were any of them law enforcement officers?
3. Copies of the consultation comments received by Police.
4. Of the recommendations of the Review of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) Project 105 Final Report October 2016 by the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (which are listed from page 155), what ones have the government not implemented and why
Yours faithfully,
Neil Jenkins
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Sent request to WA Coroner's Court again, using a new contact address.
Thank you for emailing the Coroner’s Court of Western Australia.
We acknowledge receipt of your email and will endeavour to respond within
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If you have any questions and wish to contact the office via telephone,
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acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land as being the first
peoples of this country. We embrace the vast Aboriginal cultural diversity
throughout Western Australia and recognise their continuing connection to
country, water and sky. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and
emerging.
The Department of Justice is committed to fostering respectful
partnerships with our Aboriginal colleagues, clients and those in our
care.
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Dear WA Coroner's Court,
I am just following this FOI up. It was due on 8 May. If you require an extension, please let me know: I'm happy to assist with that.
Yours faithfully,
Neil Jenkins
Thank you for emailing the Coroner’s Court of Western Australia.
We acknowledge receipt of your email and will endeavour to respond within
3 to 5 working days.
If you have any questions and wish to contact the office via telephone,
you can do so in the office hours between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM
Monday-Friday (AWST) on the numbers below;
Metropolitan Callers: (08) 9425 2900
Country Callers: 1800 671 994
Acknowledgement of Country: The Department of Justice respectfully
acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land as being the first
peoples of this country. We embrace the vast Aboriginal cultural diversity
throughout Western Australia and recognise their continuing connection to
country, water and sky. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and
emerging.
The Department of Justice is committed to fostering respectful
partnerships with our Aboriginal colleagues, clients and those in our
care.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this e-mail may be private and
personal or otherwise confidential. If you are not the intended recipient,
any use, disclosure or copying of any part of the information is
unauthorised. If you have received this e-mail in error, please inform the
sender and delete the document.
Dear Mr Jenkins,
Please note that the role of the Coroner is to investigate deaths that are considered reportable deaths according to section 3 of the Coroners Act 1996 (WA) (Coroners Act). The primary role of the Coroner investigating a death under section 25 of the Coroners Act is to find if possible, the identity of the deceased, how the death occurred, the cause of death and the particulars needed to register the death under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1998 (WA).
Freedom of Information provisions do not apply to accessing information from coronial files of the Coroner's Court. Please refer to section 26A of the Coroners Act 1996 (WA).
The Coroner's Court does not provide statistical information. The Coroner's Court is therefore not in a position to comment on statistical information provided in a media statement of the WA Police Minister. For coronial related statistical information, you may wish to contact the National Coronial Information System which is a data base for coronial deaths. The website address is https://www.ncis.org.au/
It is not the role of the Coroner's Court to comment on the progress of recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission.
Kind regards,
Principal Registrar Kelly Niclair
Coroner's Court of Western Australia
Level 10, Central Law Courts, 501 Hay Street, PERTH WA 6000
Ph: (08) 9425 2900 | Fax: (08) 9425 2901 | w: http://www.coronerscourt.wa.gov.au/