A Western Australian parliamentary question seeks to understand the policy and practical reasons behind restricted funeral service times at Albany cemetery, along with associated charges and justifications for Saturday surcharges.

AnsweredQoN 1037Legislative Council
Asked
12 August 2003
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

(1) What are the policy reasons that restrict funeral services at Albany to 11am on Saturday morning?
(2) Are there any relevant practical reasons why this time limit cannot be relaxed?
(3) What are the cemetery charges of -
(a) a burial;
(b) a cremation,
on both weekdays and on Saturday mornings at Albany cemetery?
(4) What is the justification for the increased charge on Saturday mornings?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
11 September 2003
Responded by
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development
Response time
30 days
(b) a cremation, on both weekdays and on Saturday mornings at Albany cemetery?
on both weekdays and on Saturday mornings at Albany cemetery?
(1) The By-laws, as determined by the Board, stipulate that Saturday morning services are available at 9.00am, 10.00am and 11.00am. To perform these services, staff are required to start at least one hour before the service to detail the grave or start up the cremator and remain after the last service between one to four hours depending on whether there are graves to fill in or cremations to be processed. Services are restricted to 11.00am on Saturday as there is no demonstrated demand for additional services. Also, the availability of experienced staff to perform services outside these hours is limited. (2) To accommodate services outside the present times a demonstrated need would be required and the By-laws would need to be amended. Consideration would also need to be given to the availability of staff. Presently, the employment conditions do not allow staff to be forced to work outside usual hours of operation and there is a demonstrated reluctance by staff to work outside these hours. Casual staff are not suitable to perform such services due to lack of experience. (3) The weekday charges for burials and cremations are outlined below. An additional fee of $324.50 is applied to Saturday services. (a) Burial Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
Services are restricted to 11.00am on Saturday as there is no demonstrated demand for additional services. Also, the availability of experienced staff to perform services outside these hours is limited. (2) To accommodate services outside the present times a demonstrated need would be required and the By-laws would need to be amended. Consideration would also need to be given to the availability of staff. Presently, the employment conditions do not allow staff to be forced to work outside usual hours of operation and there is a demonstrated reluctance by staff to work outside these hours. Casual staff are not suitable to perform such services due to lack of experience. (3) The weekday charges for burials and cremations are outlined below. An additional fee of $324.50 is applied to Saturday services. (a) Burial Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
(2) To accommodate services outside the present times a demonstrated need would be required and the By-laws would need to be amended. Consideration would also need to be given to the availability of staff. Presently, the employment conditions do not allow staff to be forced to work outside usual hours of operation and there is a demonstrated reluctance by staff to work outside these hours. Casual staff are not suitable to perform such services due to lack of experience. (3) The weekday charges for burials and cremations are outlined below. An additional fee of $324.50 is applied to Saturday services. (a) Burial Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
(3) The weekday charges for burials and cremations are outlined below. An additional fee of $324.50 is applied to Saturday services. (a) Burial Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
(a) Burial Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
Grant fee (if applicable) $825.00 Adult burial $627.00 Child burial (under 13) $412.50 Re-opening $654.50 Chapel (if used) $ 88.00 (b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
(b) Cremation (use of chapel included) Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
Adult $715.00 Child $352.00 (4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.
(4) An additional fee is levied on Saturday services to cover overtime rates.

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