The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of barrister Darren Bracken as a new coroner of the Coroners Court of Victoria.
Mr Bracken has more than 20 years’ experience as a barrister in Australia and overseas, regularly appearing before the Supreme and County Courts as a prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He also appeared before the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court in addition to a number of appearances before the Coroners Court and the 2009 Bushfire Royal Commission.
In 2014, Mr Bracken was appointed as a magistrate by the Government of Nauru from June 2014 to April 2015.
In Victoria, Mr Bracken has appeared before the Racing Appeals Tribunal, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, and the Mental Health Tribunal.
In 2013, he was appointed as a sessional Deputy Public Interest Monitor, helping to safeguard and defend the public interest when agencies apply for covert and coercive investigative powers.
He also appeared in the ground-breaking litigation case related to the Longford gas plant explosion in Gippsland in 1998 on behalf of those killed and injured in the disaster.
Prior to his legal career, Mr Bracken was with Victoria Police for 16 years, where he investigated serious crimes in a range of roles, including time as a Homicide Squad detective.
He is the Legal Vice President of the Medico-Legal Society of Victoria, and holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Deakin University.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
"Mr Bracken has shown outstanding dedication and respect for the law throughout his career and will bring a range of skills to his new role.”
“Mr Bracken will make a valuable contribution to the Coroners Court of Victoria and I congratulate him on his new appointment.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020