Guardian Australia disclosed on Tuesday that unmarked communal graves are being used in New South Wales to bury impoverished Australians, and in some cases families were not notified of the burial locations. The revelations have sparked calls for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to intervene and halt the practice.
Authorities responded that “all deceased persons should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their financial circumstances,” emphasizing the need for transparent and respectful burial procedures.
The report prompted condemnation from across the political spectrum, with federal Liberal MPs, state Labor ministers and the Greens all denouncing the use of unmarked graves and the lack of communication with relatives.
Labour leaders urged Albanese to use the national cabinet to stop the use of communal graves and to address systemic failings that leave families “blindsided,” according to the Guardian’s coverage.
In response, the New South Wales government announced an urgent review of its burial practices, pledging to examine how unmarked graves are allocated and to ensure families are properly informed moving forward.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>
