2024 Review of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 (The Act)
Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) has reviewed certain provisions in the Act after feedback from customers and at operators’ request, as well as for the general good governance of the sector. This has highlighted some provisions that could be further refined to enhance the effectiveness of the Act and better meet the needs of stakeholders and the people of NSW. CCNSW has released a set of proposals in the Review of the Cemeteries & Crematoria Act 2013 Discussion paper (PDF, 3.17 MB) to:
- ensure that CCNSW has the requisite powers to set and enforce strong consumer protections and safeguards; and,
- remove or clarify confusing and/or onerous provisions, enabling operators to better serve customers and the community.
Submissions are open until 5:00 pm on 11 November 2024. You can provide your feedback by sending an email to ccnsw.info@cemeteries.nsw.gov.au with the subject line: Act Review feedback.
You do not need to answer each of the discussion questions or address every reform proposed. If you wish you may focus on the proposals and questions that matter most to you.
If you have questions about the Review of the Cemeteries & Crematoria Act 2013 Discussion paper (PDF, 3.17 MB) or the Act review, email the project team at ccnsw.info@cemeteries.nsw.gov.au.
Prior Reviews and Reports
- Statutory review of the Act: In 2019–2020, the then NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment began a review of the Act. The final Review Report (PDF, 24,6MB) (the 11th Hour report) was tabled in Parliament on 19 February 2021.
- Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) reviews: As required by section 145 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013, IPART conducted 2 reviews on the:
- costs and prices of interment services in NSW and with a final report published in June 2021
- competition, costs, and pricing factors in the NSW funeral industry, and published its final report in August 2021.
Considerable progress has been made to implement many of the recommendations contained in earlier reviews. Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW have developed the Interment Industry Scheme which addresses many of the recommendations made by the reviews. The Regulations governing the scheme commenced on 14 October 2022. After considerable implementation efforts, which are ongoing, by both Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW, cemetery and crematoria operators, and others in the sector, the licence conditions fully commenced on 1 October 2024.
For more information, visit Interment Industry Scheme.