Cemetery admits blaming carbon tax for price hike for burial plot 'a mistake'

A CEMETERY has admitted it was a mistake to blame the carbon tax for an increase in the price of a burial plot.

A CEMETERY has admitted it was a mistake to blame the carbon tax for an increase in the price of a burial plot.

A receptionist at Springvale Cemetery in Melbourne's eastern suburbs reportedly told the Maliki family last week that a $55 charge would apply to a family burial because "even the dead don't escape the carbon tax".

The Opposition and some funeral industry figures have previously suggested cremation prices would rise due to the carbon tax, a claim refuted by the Gillard government.

The communications manager of Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, which administers Springvale Cemetery, told The Australian Online the suggestion to the Maliki family was a mistake.

"It absolutely was in error," Rebecca Atkins said. "Internally, we're going to have to find out who made that comment.

"There is no price increase due to the carbon tax. Our fees go up every year on 1 July and that's in line with CPI and they have done for 30-odd years.

"It's just the timing., I guess. That's where the confusion lies."

Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust chief executive John Tribe told 3AW burials would not be affected by the carbon tax, but the price of cremations would be re-assessed in light of the new scheme.

"In the event that there is enough impact on our cost price, then we'll make a submission to government," he said. "But I wouldn't think that's going to happen for six or nine months at least."

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet and assistant Treasurer David Bradbury said funeral service companies who raised their prices and falsely blamed the carbon price would face the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

"It would be reprehensible to take advantage of grieving relatives by making misleading claims about funeral expenses," they said in a joint statement.

"No cemeteries or crematoriums are liable under the carbon price mechanism."