Catholic officials are furious with the government over the management of cemeteries
Sydney’s Catholic Archbishop says he feels there has been a “betrayal” by the state government over a plan to bring cemeteries under single control.
NSW
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The Catholic Church has accused the Berejiklian government of backing away from peace-deal negotiations over the management of the state’s cemeteries.
A resolution of the contentious plan to overhaul how cemeteries are run has now been delayed as cabinet ministers seek to resolve the standoff between church and state.
Catholic Archbishop Anthony Fisher has now accused Property Minister Melinda Pavey of backing away from an agreement reached with Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who was called in to broker a truce over the issue.
In a letter to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Rev Fisher labelled Ms Pavey’s proposed course of action as a “betrayal of our trust in your good faith”.
“There is a better way forward than immediate disharmony and acrimony. Please let us conclude the Deputy Premier’s agreement in good faith with co-operation and professionalism,” Rev Fisher wrote in his letter.
“I respectfully ask you not to proceed with a course that will inevitably be perceived as anti-faith and very socially divisive.”
The outburst was sparked by an August 30 email Ms Pavey’s department to Catholic Cemeteries chief exeuctive Peter O’Meara, outlining plans for a “single administrator” to administer all five Crown cemetery operators, including the Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT).
The Archbishop said certain “in principle understandings” had been agreed to by Mr Barilaro, including that the CMCT would be a “stand-alone Crown Land Manager”.
A spokesman for the Deputy Premier said that agreement was based on a caveat that Treasury would need to give final sign-off.
Labor Leader Chris Minns accused the government of reneging on a deal.
“It now appears the Government has turned their back on faith groups once again,” Mr Minns said.
“The only reason that a centralised single operator would hold appeal for this government is to make it easier to privatise the state’s cemeteries and burials.”
A spokeswoman for Ms Pavey said the government is “committed to finding a solution that gives the people of NSW access to affordable, faith-appropriate burial services”.
“Religion and faith will continue to be at the heart of all burials in NSW,” she said.
“The Government has committed to ongoing consultation with faith groups to determine the most appropriate operating model for Crown cemeteries moving forward.”
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