Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches

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CEMETERIES AMENDMENT BILL 2005

Information :
Bill presented and read a first time.

Mr McADAM (Local Government)(by leave): Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time.

The Cemeteries Amendment Bill, together with proposed changes to the Cemeteries Regulations, will allow for multiple burials in a cemetery which has been closed. On 16 April 2003, the Darwin General Cemetery at McMillans Road was closed by notice in the Gazette with effect from 1 August 2003. The closure meant that burials in the Darwin General Cemetery would cease from 1 August 2003, except for burials in allotments in which an exclusive right of burial had been granted.

In recent times, government has received a number of requests from family members wishing to bury spouses or other family members in allotments in which a family member is already buried in the Darwin General Cemetery. They have come to me in a time of great emotional stress as they do not possess an exclusive right of burial in the allotment in which the other family member is already buried. The current Cemeteries Act does not provide me with any power to retrospectively approve double burials in the Darwin General Cemetery. Quite clearly this situation is causing distress to many families and the bill before the House will rectify this situation.

The amendment to the act and current amendments to the regulations will enable the minister to approve the burial of a spouse or other family members who are not holders of an exclusive right of burial in respect of the allotment in which their spouse and other family members are already buried in the Darwin General Cemetery.

Members would be well aware that the Darwin General Cemetery continues to have a strong and personal affinity with certain sections of our community and is regularly visited and maintained. Having loved ones enabled to be buried in a family grave simply because an exclusive right of burial has not been obtained in respect of that allotment is unacceptable. There may have been all manner of circumstances where, in a time of grief, families did not have at the forefront of their minds the obtaining of an exclusive right of burial and, indeed, in some cases the other spouse was in hospital and the funeral arrangements were managed by other family members or friends. These people should not be penalised because of an administrative or emotional oversight and this bill will correct that situation and show compassion to those families.

I seek the support of all members in expediting these changes. Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members.

Debate adjourned.

 

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