FUNERAL PRICING
782. Mr G. BAKER to the Minister for Commerce:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's new regulations aimed at providing clarity around funeral
pricing.
(1) Can the
minister outline how these changes will provide transparency and certainty for
those making difficult decisions at a difficult time?
(2) Can the
minister update the house on how the McGowan Labor government is ensuring that
the WA community is supported and not subjected to unscrupulous sales practices
at a difficult time?
Mr R.H.
COOK replied:
I thank the member for the question;
it is an important one.
(1)–(2) At
times of grief, families are often in a vulnerable situation, particularly in
circumstances in which they have to negotiate complex contracts with funeral
operators. I will say from the get-go that the vast majority of funeral
operators provide professional and sensitive services, and an important service
to the Western Australian community. However, as a result of some feedback on
consultation conducted by Consumer Protection earlier this year, it is clear
that there is very strong support for consumers to have a code that protects
them and makes sure that the industry continues to operate in a way that I think
people would expect, particularly at a time of grief when people are most
vulnerable.
The
McGowan government has put in place new regulations that will provide clarity
on the costs associated with funerals and make it easier for those
grieving to make informed decisions at a very difficult time. Funeral companies
operating in WA will be legally required to publicly display prices, enabling
funeral organisers to access information up-front, compare the costs of those
services and avoid the need to necessarily meet with a representative of the
funeral company to obtain that information in the first place. Funeral
directors will also be required to provide itemised fees for all goods and
services supplied under a funeral agreement, including the total cost of the
funeral before entering into the agreement. The funeral pricing code of
practice brings to an end the unscrupulous sales practice relating to bundled
packages. The pricing and contracts in these packages have often resulted in
funeral organisers not understanding the total costs involved. As a result of
these bundling practices, they opt for measures that they believe are
mandatory, even though they are not mandatory, when carrying out a funeral
service. In many cases, the final cost of a funeral
was unknown until it was held, and grieving families and friends were left
feeling overcharged or misled.
As
I said, the vast majority of funeral operators do the right thing and make sure
that they provide sensitive, informed services that assist people in
their time of grief. It is important that this new code supports the Western Australian
community, particularly grieving relatives, and protects people financially
when they are at their most vulnerable. It will allow families to make an
informed choice of a funeral provider. The code will become mandatory from 1 May
2023, and more information on the funeral pricing code of practice is obviously
available on the Consumer Protection website.
This is a very important initiative.
We want to make sure that under our consumer protection regime we protect people who are most vulnerable from
unscrupulous practices. I think we all agree that a person who is
preparing for the funeral for a loved one they are grieving is most vulnerable.
From that perspective, this is a really important measure to make sure that we
look after those folk.
The SPEAKER: Members, that
concludes question time.