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Funerals Inquiry To Determine Cause of Rising Costs
March 23rd 2005

Dr. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, NSW Democrat MLC, has today successful established a Parliamentary inquiry into the escalating costs of burials and cremations in NSW. At a press conference held in NSW Parliament today, Dr. Chesterfield-Evans outlined the terms of the inquiry, which will look at issues raised by NSW Council of Social Services (N.C.O.S.S.) and the Combined Pensioners And Superannuants Association (C.P.S.A.).

"There's been a startling rise in the costs of funerals over the last ten years, and a disturbing tendency for these services to be provided by companies owned by a decreasing number of people. We need to know what's causing the increase in costs and to ensure that this is not the result of an unhealthy oligopoly.

"Other issues raised by N.C.O.S.S. and the C.P.S.A. have also been slated for review, including development of regulations that protect relatives of loved ones so that they are not taken advantage of in their time of grief. We also need to ensure that issues surrounding public health and business licensing are comprehensively reviewed.

"As the "baby boomer" generation starts to age, it will mean that the funeral industry will become a growth industry as expenditure shifts first to healthcare and finally to funerals. While there continues to be a question of whether the baby boomers will be able to finance these necessities themselves, there is a need to make sure that both remain affordable." Dr Chesterfield-Evans concluded.