The ACT Coronial Restorative Reform Process and Summary Report
In late 2021, the ACT Attorney-General announced support for a pilot restorative reform process focused on the coronial system – a process conducted by an Independent Facilitator. The Independent Facilitator, Alistair Legge, prepared the report: Coronial Restorative Reform Process: Overview, Outcomes, Priorities for Next Steps and a Recommendation to Support Future Restorative Reform Processes (May 2024).
The ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner was the Independent Honest Broker for the restorative reform process. The views in the summary report (linked below) do not reflect the opinions or advice of the Independent Honest Broker, except where they relate to the role of Victim Support ACT or are specifically noted as the view of the Victims of Crime Commissioner.
As part of the Coronial Restorative Reform process reported on above, in 2024 the Victims of Crime Commissioner engaged Ms Lindsay McCabe to examine and report on the experiences of Aboriginal Peoples with the coronial system in Canberra, acknowledging the historical and systemic factors affecting these interactions. The report aims to identify ways the coronial system can better address the needs of bereaved Aboriginal families, promote cultural safety, and address systemic inequalities.
Report into Restorative Justice and Coronial Hearings (PDF 1.2MB)
In 2024, the Victims of Crime Commissioner engaged Ms Lindsay McCabe to evaluate a pilot coronial therapeutic support group program. This followed the release of the Legge Report (2024). Membership of the group was available to family members of loved ones whose death had previously been, or was currently, the subject of an ACT Coronial investigation or hearing.
Pilot Coronial Therapeutic Support Group - An Independent Evaluation (PDF 655KB)