Follow our lead, MLC tells Anglican Church

The State Government has urged Anglican Church leaders to follow its example and listen to community concerns as they prepare to make a final decision on church sales.

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

THE State Government has urged Anglican Church leaders to follow its example and listen to community concerns as they prepare to make a final decision on church sales.

Prosser Liberal MLC Jane Howlett said the Government’s Burial and Cremation Act reforms, which passed both Houses of Parliament on Thursday, were developed following extensive consultation with the community and cemetery managers.

“I urge leaders of the Anglican Church to follow this example,” she said.

Prosser MLC Jane Howlett. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

She said the church had “seemingly ignored the concerns of parishioners and the community”.

“A loss of a local church would have similar ramifications to a community losing its school, as churches play a significant role in the spiritual, mental and social fabric of small communities,” Ms Howlett said.

“These reforms strike the right balance between protecting the community, while also enabling cemetery managers to do their important work without undue regulatory burden.”

It comes as Anglican Bishop Richard Condie again hit out at the legislation for driving up costs of burials.

Bishop Condie has previously labelled the proposed changes a $20,000 “death tax”.

“Our motivation in arguing against these changes was to keep costs as low as possible for Tasmanians,” he said.

“We genuinely believe the costs associated with the revised Act will adversely affect Tasmanians and we will work hard to minimise these where we can.”

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Bishop Condie thanked the four members of the Upper House who voted unsuccessfully in favour of amendments he said would have lowered costs without limiting access to cemeteries.

Attorney-General Elise Archer said the legislation “provides checks and balances to ensure probity in the sale and closure processes”.

Under the new legislation a cemetery will not be able to be closed until 100 years after the last burial.

The church last week closed five cemeteries that had not seen a burial for more than 30 years. On Saturday it will decide which of 108 properties, including 76 churches, will be sold to help fund a redress scheme for child abuse victims.