Sydney – The sister of one of the Balibo Five journalists shot dead in East Timor 30 years ago wants their remains exhumed for examination.

Maureen Tolfree, sister of Brian Peters, whose death is the subject of a NSW coronial inquest, believes the remains may hold clues about the manner and cause of the men's deaths.

The remains, which have never been properly examined, are believed to be buried in a Jakarta cemetery.

Ms Tolfree lodged an application for an inquest in June 2004 and NSW State Coroner John Abernethy agreed to hear the case earlier this year.

Mr Peters, a British national, was one of five Australia-based journalists killed during an attack by Indonesian special forces troops on the Timorese border town of Balibo in October 1975.

Official reports say the men Greg Shackleton, Gary Cunningham, Tony Stewart, Malcolm Rennie and Mr Peters were killed in crossfire between Indonesian troops and Timorese militia, but their families insist they were murdered.

At Glebe Coroners Court today, Ms Tolfree's solicitor Rodney Lewis said an examination of the remains is vital to determine the facts surrounding the deaths.

"It is wholly within your power and your jurisdiction to make a request to anyone either in this country or another to have the bodies exhumed," Mr Lewis told Mr Abernethy.

But Mr Abernethy said an exhumation may not fall within his jurisdiction. Ms Tolfree has also asked the coroner to compel former prime minister Gough Whitlam, who was in office when the shootings took place to give evidence before the inquest. Mr Abernethy will rule on both matters this afternoon.