Anglican Church renews warning on burial plot costs

The Anglican Church has claimed Tasmanians will not be able to afford to be buried with their loved ones under proposed legislation.

Members of the Anglican Church meet at Campbell Town to discuss church sales. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

THE Anglican Church has claimed Tasmanians will not be able to afford to be buried with their loved ones if legislation aimed at protecting cemeteries at sites the Diocese wants to sell passes Parliament unchanged.

The Government on Tuesday tabled in the Lower House its Burial and Cremation Amendment Bill 2018.

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CHANGES TO BURIAL ACT LABELLED A ‘DEATH TAX’

The Anglican church in Bothwell, which is closed but has not yet been deconsecrated. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

One amendment would make clear that whoever placed headstones or monuments at grave sites would be responsible for their upkeep, while cemetery managers would be responsible for maintaining site infrastructure.

St James church and cemetery in Jericho. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Another would prevent cemetery managers from doing anything with their land until 100 years after the last internment unless they applied to the relevant regulator to close the cemetery. That could only be approved 50 years after the last internment.

The regulator — the director of Local Government unless otherwise specified — would also be able to place conditions on a closure to ensure the ongoing protection of graves.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said: “The final Bill balances the many important concerns expressed through the consultation process and allows us to achieve our objectives of giving the community more certainty and protections ahead of the timeframe set by the Anglican Church for their sale process.

“Importantly, the review of the Burial and Cremation Act 2002 is ongoing, with further reform expected to be introduced in 2019.”

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FAMOUS TASSIE GRAVES UNDER THREAT

Anglican Archbishop of Tasmania Richard Condie. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Anglican Bishop of Tasmania Richard Condie appeared displeased with the timelines the Bill allowed for change at cemeteries, arguing the cost of maintenance would be borne by families.

“As the Bill stands, early estimates suggest that these costs will be in the order of $10,000 to

$15,000 per burial plot,” Bishop Condie said.

“Unless amendments are made to the Bill during the parliamentary process, most Tasmanians will not be able to afford to be buried with their loved ones in community cemeteries.”

The Government has previously hit out at the Anglican Church for its “death tax” claims.

The Anglican Church will next month announce which regional churches it will sell to fund its redress scheme. About one-quarter of the profits would go to child sex abuse survivors.