Cairns burial prices skyrocket in new financial year

Grieving families burying a loved one will fork out thousands more than they did just two weeks ago in Cairns – see how the rest of FNQ compares.

Cairns Regional Council has increased the price of burials by more than 150 per cent.

Grieving families burying a loved one will fork out 150 per cent more than they did just two weeks ago, sparking fears it could bankrupt those left to foot the bill.

On July 1, the Cairns Regional Council hiked the price of a burial permit and plot from $2163 to $5400.

The hike makes Cairns the most expensive council to be buried in Far North Queensland by nearly $2000.

Gunggandi senior traditional owner and North Queensland Land Council director Warren Martens feared the burial cost increases would disproportionately affect indigenous people in the community. Picture: Elodie Jakes

Cairns-based Gunggandji senior traditional owner Warren Martens said he was appalled by the “cunning” actions from council, saying many Indigenous peoples preferred burial but multiple deaths in a family would be crippling under recent price changes.

“If you had two or three deaths in a family you would be sent broke. Where are the most vulnerable in the community going to find this money from?” he said.

“The council has an obligation not to widen the gap with Indigenous people … it’s just one of these things that council has snuck in, changed it, without people knowing it and who questions this increase when you’ve just lost something?

“This council’s got a mentality at the moment of cashing in on the elderly and the dead. Who are you going to pick on next?”

Data from the Cairns 2023-2033 cemetery strategy showed that cremation had become an increasingly chosen option nationwide, with twice as many people opting for the service.

But for those who don’t want to be cremated or can’t be cremated for cultural and religious reasons, these trends provide little solace.

Chris and Brett Heritage, owners of Cairns’ longest-running and only family-owned funeral service Heritage Brady Funerals, said recent hikes could make burying a loved one simply out of reach.

“These changes make Cairns nearly twice as expensive as any of the surrounding councils to be buried in,” they said.

“Some individuals opt for cremation over burial, but for many, cultural and religious reasons make burial the preferred or only option.

“We are genuinely concerned that these people who wish to be buried will be priced out of their end of life wish.”

Despite being lower than some south-east councils, Cairns burials are more expensive than the Douglas, Mareeba, Atherton and Cassowary Coast councils.

A spokesman for the Cairns Regional Council attributed the recent increases to growing costs associated with cemeteries upkeep and burials.

“It has been more than a decade since cemetery fees were last reviewed and, in that time, the cost of providing the service has increased,” he said.

“As part of the 2025/26 budget, council made the decision to increase the standard burial fee from $1195 to $2400 – this change ensures we are better covering the actual costs involved in delivering this essential service.

“Even with the increase, our fees remain about $700 below the average when compared with eight similar councils across Queensland.”

Originally published as Cairns burial prices skyrocket in new financial year