Existing Tasmanian cemeteries and gravesites must be given a guarantee they can operate forever, according to the Labor Party.
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Lyons Labor MHA Jen Butler said on Saturday the state government must amend the Burials and Cremations Act to guarantee the ongoing use of cemeteries sold as part of the Anglican Church’s contribution to the national redress scheme for sexual abuse survivors.
She said the act should “grant presumptive internment rights, providing perpetuity” to all gravesites.
A state government spokesman said a review of the act had begun and would focus on three areas.
“The continued appropriate, safe and responsible management of cemeteries, the honouring of exclusive burial rights and continued public access for relatives and friends of the deceased,” he said.
“It is proposed that a package of legislative amendments be developed in time to allow for introduction during the spring session of Parliament.”
The changes proposed by Ms Butler are included in the South Australian and NSW burials acts, with provisions for cemeteries to potentially maintain interment rights in perpetuity.
There is no similar guarantee in Tasmania’s act.
“It’s very confronting that families believe they will no longer own gravesites when … families presumed plots were purchased in perpetuity,” Ms Butler said.
Descendant of the St Matthias’ Church, included among the 108 properties provisionally listed as for sale by the Anglican Church, founder Julie Gaunt said she “100 per cent” supported the proposed amendment.
“It’s something that has been an issue for a lot of people and they are really worried about if they will be able to be buried with their loved ones and ancestors,” she said.