ACT Coroner's Court 2003 Bushfire Inquiry

Under the provisions of the Coroners Act 1997 the ACT Coroner conducted an inquiry into the origin, cause and circumstances of the fires which destroyed and damaged property in the ACT in January 2003 and inquests into the deaths of four people who died in the fires.

Coroner Maria Doogan presided over the inquiry and handed down her findings and report on 19 December 2006.

This webpage provides access to Coroner Maria Doogan's report (volume I and volume II), inquiry transcripts, witness list as well as submissions and media releases. Also available is a link to the Inquiry into the Operational Response to the January 2003 Bushfires by Ron McLeod.

Also included is the ACT Supreme Court judgment, R v Coroner Maria Doogan; ex parte Peter Lucas-Smith and Ors [2005] ACTSC 74, which dealt, in part, with the question of apprehended bias.

Submissions

Submissions of Counsel Assisting

ACTEWAGL

Submissions on behalf of the Australian Capital Territory

Australian Federal Police

ACT Sustainable Rural Lands Group Inc

Submissions on behalf of Mr R. McRae

Submissions on behalf of Ms O. Arman

Submissions on behalf of Mr P. Lucas-Smith and Mr M. Castle

Other Submissions

Transcripts

Directions Hearings

Daily Transcripts

Days 1 to 5
7 October 2003 -
(PDF  869KB)
  Day 6
14 October 2003
(PDF  54KB)
  Day 7
15 October 2003
(PDF  201KB)
  Days 8 to 9
16 October 2003
(PDF  226KB)
  Days 10 to 19
16 February 2004 -
(PDF  2.25MB)
Days 20 to 29
3 March 2004 -
(PDF  1.76MB)
  Days 30 to 39
5 April 2004 -
(PDF  2.35MB)
  Days 40 to 49
23 April 2004 -
(PDF  1.91MB)
  Days 50 to 59
10 May 2004 -
(PDF  1.75MB)
  Days 60 to 69
24 May 2004 -
(PDF  1.98MB)
Days 70 to 79
9 August 2004 -
(PDF  1.36MB)
  Days 80 to 89
5 October 2004 -
(PDF  1.29MB)
  Days 90 to 92
18 October 2005 -
(PDF  729KB)
    

Oral Submissions

Media releases