The NSW government proposes a change that would allow coroners to appoint an alternative next of kin in some deaths, after concerns that family members can lose control of a person’s body or that decision-making may not reflect safety and eligibility requirements. The proposal is linked to the case of Caitlin, whose death has prompted calls for clearer rules.

Across outlets, the reported policy change would apply where there are issues involving family and domestic violence or where the person is estranged from their family. In those situations, coroners would gain additional discretion to identify a more appropriate representative, rather than relying solely on the usual order of next of kin.

While the sources share the same description of the government’s intent and the categories of cases it targets, they frame it through the lens of family control and the impact on relatives after death. The coverage emphasizes the practical effect of the change—who can make or hold authority around the deceased’s remains—rather than describing any specific legal timeline or procedural details beyond coroner appointment power.