Review of NSW Cemeteries and Crematoria Act

Review of NSW Cemeteries and Crematoria Act

In 2019-2020, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment commenced a statutory review of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013.

The Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 commenced in 2014 to regulate the interment sector in NSW; the five-year statutory review is required under Section 144 of the Act.

The Review was led by industry experts Tim Scott and David Harley AM. Tim Scott of Whitella Consulting has significant expertise in the cemetery and crematoria sector and David Harley has been a key advisor to the Government on the interment industry.

The final Review Report (PDF, 24610.75 KB) was tabled in Parliament on 19 February 2021.

The government acknowledges the findings of the Review and agrees industry change is required. It will continue to work with stakeholders to determine how responses to the recommendations are implemented.

Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) reports

As required by s145 of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013, IPART is conducting two reviews on the:

• costs and prices of interment services in NSW with a final report published in June 2021
• competition, costs, and pricing factors in the NSW funeral industry with a final report published in August 2021.

Interment Industry Scheme

In response to several of the recommendations made in the statutory review and the IPART review of the costs and prices of interment, the NSW Government has introduced an Interment Industry Scheme which commenced on 14 October 2022.  The Scheme will license cemetery and crematorium operators in NSW, with licensing commencing from 1 July 2023. For more information, view the Interment Industry Scheme webpage.