Why might the coroner hold an inquest?
The coroner is interested in finding what lessons can be learnt from a death and can comment on any matter connected with it. For example, the coroner might make recommendations about public safety. It is not the coroner’s role to establish whether a crime has been committed or to find a person guilty of that crime. In the case of the Victorian bushfires, it is the role of Victoria Police to investigate any alleged crimes of arson and the role of the Office of Public Prosecution to prosecute any alleged offenders. The State Coroner may be holding inquests into the Victorian bushfires.