Yr Right,
I've just read your statement about the ATSB. The following reference from the January 2014 ATSB guide for Police and Emergency Services might assist you in better understanding their roles:
The ATSB may investigate sports aviation
accidents and those involving amateur-built aircraft, particularly fatal
accidents involving ‘VH registered’ powered aircraft. The ATSB will
not normally investigate accidents involving gliders or motor gliders,
personal recreation balloon operations or non-VH registered aircraft
unless the possible existence of a wider safety issue is indicated.
When the ATSB does not investigate, the ATSB will inform the
appropriate sporting body and the police to that effect. In those cases,
the police will normally coordinate the accident investigation.
The police may wish to utilise the expertise of the organisations
involved in sports aviation to assist their investigation. These may
include:
• Gliding Federation of Australia – Gliding Australia for soaring and sailplane pilots
• Recreational Aviation Australia – Recreational Aviation Australia
• Australian Parachuting Federation – Home - Australian Parachute Federation
• Australian Sport Aviation Confederation – The Air Sport Australia Confederation (ASAC)
• Australian Sports Rotorcraft Association – ASRA Home Page
So as you can see ATSB do not investigate all deaths. Pretty sure they also don't do base jumpers, motorized trikes, para-gliders etc. Also it would appear that they don't get involved in military matters or criminal matters unless requested by the investigating authority.
I'm surprised you didn't know this given your vast legal experience and provision of expert evidence at court.
Stiky
