Page 4775 - Week 13 - Thursday, 28 November 2019
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cremation. While this technology is not currently being used in Australia it is being taken up overseas, including in parts of Europe and the United Kingdom.
The definition of “cremation” in the bill includes alkaline hydrolysis and other non-fire methods of disposal of human remains. This will ensure that in the future the operation of these facilities will be captured by the act and all the relevant aspects of the regulatory framework will apply, including record-keeping requirements. The bill also gives us the ability to make codes of practice in the future should we find that these facilities require additional regulation.
A key aspect of the bill was to create a framework that is financially sustainable into the future. When the current Cemeteries and Crematoria Act was introduced in 2003 it established a framework to deal with the future care of cemeteries and memorial facilities. The 2003 act established two trusts to deal with perpetual care and requires operators to pay a percentage of revenue into the fund which is set aside for both short and long-term maintenance. However, as this was introduced in 2003, the territory has an unfunded liability for future maintenance of facilities in the tens of millions of dollars. To assist in dealing with the perpetual care arrangements in the bill have been simplified.
Only one type of trust will exist and that will be set aside for long-term maintenance only. Operators will be expected to undertake planning to fund short-term maintenance in the course of running the facility. The bill creates flexibility in how the trust can be used, allowing the cemeteries and crematoria authority to manage just one trust for all facilities it operates. This will provide greater flexibility and efficiencies.
The bill recognises and protects the rights of all Canberrans to burial, cremation and interment services that meet their needs and does so in a sustainable way. The regulatory framework that the bill establishes will ensure that families can have expectations around how cemeteries and crematoria facilities which provide essential public services will be operated. Importantly, the framework will provide confidence that lost loved ones will be treated with dignity and respect and will be protected in perpetuity. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Ms Lawder) adjourned to the next sitting.
Public Accounts—Standing Committee
Report 8
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (3.36): I present the following report:
Public Accounts—Standing Committee—Report 8—Inquiry into Auditor-General’s Report No 7 of 2016: Certain Land Development Agency acquisitions-, dated 28 November 2019, together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings
I move:
That the report be noted.
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