Inquest into Perth madam's 1975 murder

The WA Coroner will hold a public inquest into the 1975 shooting murder of Perth brothel madam Shirley Finn.

Finn was found dead in her car near the Royal Perth Golf Club with four bullets in the head in June 1975.

The coroner's announcement is a victory for Finn's daughter Bridget Shewring, who has long campaigned for an inquest before it is too late as there is an ageing list of potential people of interest.

There have long been rumours of a police involvement or a cover-up, with an investigator at the time linked to notorious NSW corrupt cop and convicted killer Roger Rogerson.

Finn was being investigated by the tax office over a massive bill, and had threatened to name people she had been involved with or paid kickbacks to.

Author Juliet Wills quotes a retired WA policeman in her book who says Ms Finn was in the police canteen shortly before her murder.