Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2004Q00975:body:0:p1
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2004Q00975
Segment Type: other
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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

      ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:

      TO:

      LEWIS WYVILL, QC

      GREETING:

      WE DO by these Our Letters Patent issued in Our name by Our Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on the advice of the Federal Executive Council and pursuant to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and every other enabling power, appoint you to be a Commissioner to inquire into:

          (a) deaths:

             (i) in the State of Queensland; and

             (ii) where in a particular case, or any particular cases, you are so requested by the Honourable James Henry Muirhead under the existing Commission - elsewhere in Australia;

           since 1 January 1980 of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders (including any such death that may occur after the date of these Our Letters Patent) whilst in police custody, in prison or in any other place of detention, but not including such a death occurring in a hospital, mental institution, infirmary or medical treatment centre unless injuries suffered while in police custody, in prison or in any other place of detention caused or contributed to that death; and

          (b) any subsequent action taken in respect of each of those deaths including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the conduct of coronial, police and other inquiries and any other things that were not done but ought to have been done:

      AND We direct you:

          (c) to consult generally with the Honourable James Henry Muirhead with regard to the methods and procedures to be followed in relation to his and your inquiries; and

          (d) to conform with any guidelines issued or recommendations made by the Honourable James Henry Muirhead under the existing Commission in relation to those methods and procedures;

      for the purpose of establishing a uniform approach in relation to those inquiries:

      AND We further direct you if so requested by the Honourable James Henry Muirhead under the existing Commission:

          (e) to undertake inquiry into a particular death specified in the request; or

          (f) not to undertake inquiry, or further inquiry, into a particular death, as specified in the request:

      AND We further direct you, when so requested by the Honourable James Henry Muirhead under the existing Commission, whether before or after the submission of your reports but not later than 31 December 1989, to consult with him in relation to the preparation of his report or reports and recommendations under that Commission:

      AND We declare that you are authorised to conduct your inquiry into any matters under these Our Letters Patent in combination with any inquiry into the same or related matters that you are directed