New tax to be buried in NSW

Hay Cemetery certainly does not need a “cop on the beat” to ensure it is managed effectively. It is far from being neglected and unregulated, but new burials will be taxed by State Government from July 1. Image: The Riverine Grazier/Tertia Butcher.

By Tertia Butcher

Another tax has been wacked onto local ratepayers by the State Government.

The Cemetery and Cremation Tax which comes into effect on July 1 is set to hit not only Local Government Councils, but also grieving families.

The State Government has announced it will impose the tax on every burial and cremation carried out, including at council-owned facilities. General Manager, David Webb said the revenue would be used to fund the Cemeteries & Crematoria Association of NSW.

“This got wacked onto us and no one knew it was coming,” Mr Webb said.

“It is to run the Association; straight out a money grab by the State Government.”

Mr Webb said this was despite the previous government saying it would not introduce such a tax.

Carrathool Shire Council has written to the Premier and local Member, Helen Dalton objecting to the Interment Services Levy, saying it is a financial impost not required, and is placed on people at a time of bereavement.

President of Local Government NSW, Cr Darriea Turley has written to the minister responsible, Steve Kamper on behalf of all councils, calling for the decision to be reversed.

“LGNSW understands the need for NSW Government to undertake budget repairs, but a cash grab from families of the deceased in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is not the right way to go about this,” he added.

“This new tax will particularly hit rural and regional families.”

Council-operated cemeteries undertake more than 40 per cent of all burials across NSW, but this rises to over 80 per cent of all burials in rural and regional NSW.

Cr Turley said council-operated cemeteries should not be required to pay the tax to fund the operations of bureaucracy which regulates cemeteries.

“The regulators are public servants who should be paid from State coffers, not by picking the pockets of councils and families who have lost a loved one,” he said.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said a strong ‘cop on the beat’ was needed.

“For too long cemeteries were neglected by previous governments leading to a critical lack of supply for burial space in Sydney, with bad operators left unregulated and customers left vulnerable,” he said.

On the contrary, Hay Shire Council has been maintaining Hay Traditional Cemetery and Hay Lawn Cemetery at 124 Cemetery Road effectively and with foresight for the past 60 years. The Cemetery has been in operation from the 1860s and consists of various denominations as well as War Graves and Japanese Cemeteries.

There is a large unmarked section within the Traditional Cemetery with the location of the graves in this section unknown, as a fire at the caretakers’ cottage destroyed the records when the cemetery was managed by the Hay Cemetery Trust before Council assumed control in the 1960s.

In addition, both Council and the Library have historical records of the cemeteries, with Hay Historical Society having a large collection of material for additional family history research.

Council can be contact regarding cemetery issues at 134 Lachlan Street by phone 02 6990 1100, or email mail@hay.nsw.gov.au

The Library can be contacted at 204-206 Lachlan Street by phone 02 6993 4492 or email library@hay.nsw.gov.au for family and local history enquires.