Media Release: More To Be Done Before Formal Apology over R.A. Rodda Museum Collection of Unauthorised Autopsy Specimens

December 11, 2025

More To Be Done Before Formal Apology over R.A. Rodda Museum Collection of Unauthorised Autopsy Specimens

Thursday, 11 December 2025

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called for remaining questions surrounding the distressing Coronial Project to be resolved before the formal Parliamentary apology is provided to families next year.

Ms Webb has advocated for a State Apology since the publication in a newspaper of the names of 126 deceased persons in January this year, seeking relatives to come forward to assist in the Coroner’s inquiry into the R.A. Rodda Museum of Pathology’s collection of autopsy samples retained without consent.

“While welcoming the opportunity for both Houses to formally respond to the Government’s Ministerial Statement outlining the steps between now and the promised formal apology next year, we must recognise many affected families still have unanswered questions,” Ms Webb said.

“I had requested the ministerial statement update from government be provided well before the 25 January anniversary of the newspaper advert listing names of the deceased, so affected families could understand whether and what may be happening in the future, to help them cope with that traumatic milestone.

“Understandably, people want to know how this travesty occurred in the first place, who was responsible, and crucially, whether any laws were broken.”

Ms Webb said the Coroner’s Findings described these practices as “inconceivable”.

“Yet such inconceivable actions did occur, and were undertaken by state appointees and employees, presumably within state and public institutions.

“Responsibility is not solely about finding out what happened at the time these practices occurred from 1966 to 1991. It is also about taking responsibility for what did or did not occur subsequent to that period, and what is happening now.

“These abhorrent practices may be historic, but for many the hurt, grief and trauma remains very real and very current.

“For many affected, who lost their loved one in deeply traumatic circumstances, they have been forced to grieve twice, and in some case even bury their family member twice.

“There is more work to be done between now and the State apology, if that is to deliver some semblance of peace, closure and healing for the bereaved.”

ATTACHED: Ms Webb’s Speech in Reply to Ministerial Statement providing an update on the Coronial Project, delivered Thursday 11 December 2025