Probe push on burial cost hike

A STATE Labor MP has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to investigate an Anglican Church plan to increase burial costs.

Lyons MP Jen Butler said the Anglican Diocese of Tasmania would be launching “yet anther attack on rural communities” if it significantly increased charges for burial plots, something the diocese last year warned would happen if changes to the Burial and Cremation Act were passed.

In its submission to the legislative process the diocese said the cost of a burial plot could be more than $15,000 under the amended law, which requires cemeteries to be maintained for at least 100 years after their last burial.

It said the cost would “effectively function like a de facto death tax on the residents of rural and regional Tasmania”.

Anglican burials typically cost $500 to $1000.

“With a declining and ageing rural population, it will be impossible to maintain cemeteries by volunteer labour for 100 years after the last burial, and so costs will necessarily increase,” Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie said.

“If Ms Butler cares about rural communities, she can advocate for changes to the legislation, when it is next reviewed. We would be happy to work with her on this.”

Ms Butler said: “In an environment where many communities are already grieving the loss of their local churches as part of the Anglican fire sale, the church should be urgently reconsidering this move.”

The diocese declined to comment on whether charges had already increased, saying burial costs were managed by individual parishes.

A State Government spokesman said there was no evidence of a significant increase in burial costs since the Act was amended.