Anthony Albanese confirms joint state funeral for Barry Humphries

The nation’s greatest comic will be farewelled in a state funeral co-hosted by Victoria and NSW as the Prime Minister says cancel culture is ‘a sad development’.

Barry Humphries will be honoured in a joint state funeral involving the commonwealth, Anthony Albanese has confirmed.

The Prime Minister, in Britain for the King’s coronation, revealed that Victoria and NSW would co-host a funeral for the Australian comedian.

“There will be a state funeral for Barry Humphries, co-hosted by the NSW and the Victorian government and the Australian government.

“My government will be part of that as well,” Mr Albanese said in an interview with English broadcaster Piers Morgan.

“He’s someone who has given an enormous amount of pleasure to generations of Australians and I know that a range of people who are friends of mine knew him very well.

“I know how warmly (Humphries) was regarded by people in Australia and in the UK.”

Barry Humphries at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2015. Picture: Claudio Raschella

The Prime Minister was also asked about the Melbourne International Comedy Festival “cancelling” Humphries.

“People can legitimately put forward their concerns about someone’s comments that were made then but, at the same time, I think that we’ve got to be able to laugh at ourselves,” he said.

“The idea of cancel culture is, in my view, a sad development because you often can get pile-ons on social media and you see it happen so often and things, too, get taken out of context.”

The Melbourne festival dropped the comic’s name from its major Barry Award in 2019 ­following backlash over Humphries’ comments on transgender people.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he was unaware the memorial would be a “three-­government thing”.

“I can’t confirm for you where the service will be, or where the funeral will be. As far as I know, that’s not settled and we’re still talking to the family,” he said.

Humphries, regarded as one of Australia’s greatest comics, died at age 89 in April at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney following complications from hip surgery.

Dame Edna Everage with King Charles and Camilla.

In the days before his death, King Charles called Humphries and wrote an email to him during his stay in hospital.

The King said he had been “saddened” by his death.