❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB) operations, including redevelopment practices, governance, funeral provider relationships, and fee structures. The Minister's responses largely affirm the MCB's compliance and practices.
AnsweredQoN 251Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) With reference to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board (MCB), please confirm that when existing plots are redeveloped, that this is done in such a fashion that the remains of previously deceased are not disturbed? (2) Please confirm that you or your responsible officers at the MCB have not received any reports of incidents of grave and remains disturbance , in the last 5 years? If so, when and how were families of the bereaved informed? (3) Please advise that no further internments occur on 'beautification sites'? (4) Please confirm that in accordance with the Second reading (Cemeteries Amendment Bill) by the Hon John Williams MLC 3 Dec 1986, that "no beautification takes place until every relative who is traceable has been traced and permission given for the area to be cleaned up."? (5) Please advise what actions are taken to contact the registered owners or contacts of existing plots when either the site is chosen: (a) For redevelopment, or; and (b) On expiration of the 25 year term for a plot (and the family or contact has not contacted MCB to renew prior to 25 years)? (6) Apropos the next mandated MCB Community Survey: (a) When will it occur; and (b) Will the full findings of it be released to the public, if not why not? (7) With regards to the governance of the MCB, is the Minister satisfied that the contiguous length of terms of the existing Board members, meets WAPS Governance Standards? (8) Is the Minister sufficiently satisfied that the composition of the board and chair, satisfies any probity or conflict of interest tests when measured against Public Sector Governance Standards? (9) Is the Minister satisfied that the appointment of new funeral providers in the Perth metro funeral directors market place is sufficiently independent when existing operators comprise influence in part or whole of the Board? (10) Is the Minister sufficiently satisfied that the Monument Assessment and Advisory Committee (MAAC) assessment processes are being abided by when the body involves so few community representatives and so many officers connected to or former employees or contractors of the MCB? (11) How often has the MAAC met since inception and how regularly in the last 5 years? (Please provide dates of meetings)? (12) Please provide a schedule of the wholesale costs to funeral providers in Perth metro cemeteries, ie a schedule of fees and charges? (13) What margin are funeral directors permitted to charge the public supplement to the wholesale charges? (14) When a funeral event occurs please describe the process that MCB conducts to ensure the deceased does not already have a prepaid "pre-need" package and plot reserved? (15) Can the public be assured that every effort is taken to ensure that prepaid public pre-need packages are matched to newly deceased members of the public who have a funeral at an MCB site? (16) Please confirm the licence fee paid per annum for funeral directors to use MCB sites? Is this adequate? When was the last fee increase and by how much was the increment in % terms? (17) The MCB by-laws ( Item 8. Clause 74) provide for the issuing of permits or permissions for businesses to display logos or advertisement within the boundaries of MCB. Please provide the schedule of existing permissions as at 30 May 2025?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
5 days
(1–2) Yes.
(3) An interment may be permitted in any grave with a current and valid Grant of Right of Burial, provided there is physical capacity to do so. In sections subject to cemetery redevelopment, once a new section plan has been approved in accordance with the section 30A of Cemeteries Act 1986, only those graves identified in that plan as retained or newly created may be available for interments. Pre-existing graves that are not retained under the approved plan cannot be repurchased or used for future interments.
(4) The MCB fully complies with the requirements of the Cemeteries Act 1986.
(5) (a- b) MCB maintains a register of all grant holders. All persons with current and expired Grants of Right of Burial are contacted at their registered email or postal address. All persons with a registered “location interest” are contacted by email. Signage is placed within the proposed redevelopment area, as well as a small sign at every grave for a minimum of two years advising all visitors to the cemetery and the grave of the proposal. Signs are placed on the graves for at least two years. Notices are placed in newspapers at the commencement of each consultation period, notifying the community of where the plans may be inspected, and inviting written submissions to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board.
(6) (a– b) The 2024/25 Customer Satisfaction Survey was undertaken in April and May 2025. The findings are audited by the Office of the Auditor General and then published in the MCB Annual Report each year.
(7- 10) Yes.
(11) MAAC have met approximately 86 times since inception. In the last 5 years it has met 5 times, as follows: 23 Oct 2024; 30 April 2024; 16 May 2023; 17 May 2022; 28 May 2021; 2020 – no meetings
(12) Please refer to attached paper Cemeteries Fees and Charges from the Government Gazette.
(13) Funeral Directors must charge the MCB fees and charges as gazetted.
(14) A check is undertaken to ascertain whether a pre-need agreement exists during the verification process of every deceased person’s contact record.
(15) Yes.
(16) The annual license fee for 2025/2026 is $1,646 a 3.6% increase on the fee charged in 2024/2025. The fees are reviewed annually and are adequate.
(17) Funeral directors are authorised to display banners, logos and distribute materials for their approved funeral services as part of their license. Celeste Catering are authorised to display logos and materials for catering for funeral services under their lease agreement with the MCB. No businesses have been provided authority to display logos or advertisements within the boundaries of MCB cemeteries MCB’s by-laws.
(3) An interment may be permitted in any grave with a current and valid Grant of Right of Burial, provided there is physical capacity to do so. In sections subject to cemetery redevelopment, once a new section plan has been approved in accordance with the section 30A of Cemeteries Act 1986, only those graves identified in that plan as retained or newly created may be available for interments. Pre-existing graves that are not retained under the approved plan cannot be repurchased or used for future interments.
(4) The MCB fully complies with the requirements of the Cemeteries Act 1986.
(5) (a- b) MCB maintains a register of all grant holders. All persons with current and expired Grants of Right of Burial are contacted at their registered email or postal address. All persons with a registered “location interest” are contacted by email. Signage is placed within the proposed redevelopment area, as well as a small sign at every grave for a minimum of two years advising all visitors to the cemetery and the grave of the proposal. Signs are placed on the graves for at least two years. Notices are placed in newspapers at the commencement of each consultation period, notifying the community of where the plans may be inspected, and inviting written submissions to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board.
(6) (a– b) The 2024/25 Customer Satisfaction Survey was undertaken in April and May 2025. The findings are audited by the Office of the Auditor General and then published in the MCB Annual Report each year.
(7- 10) Yes.
(11) MAAC have met approximately 86 times since inception. In the last 5 years it has met 5 times, as follows: 23 Oct 2024; 30 April 2024; 16 May 2023; 17 May 2022; 28 May 2021; 2020 – no meetings
(12) Please refer to attached paper Cemeteries Fees and Charges from the Government Gazette.
(13) Funeral Directors must charge the MCB fees and charges as gazetted.
(14) A check is undertaken to ascertain whether a pre-need agreement exists during the verification process of every deceased person’s contact record.
(15) Yes.
(16) The annual license fee for 2025/2026 is $1,646 a 3.6% increase on the fee charged in 2024/2025. The fees are reviewed annually and are adequate.
(17) Funeral directors are authorised to display banners, logos and distribute materials for their approved funeral services as part of their license. Celeste Catering are authorised to display logos and materials for catering for funeral services under their lease agreement with the MCB. No businesses have been provided authority to display logos or advertisements within the boundaries of MCB cemeteries MCB’s by-laws.
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