Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 782 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 24 November 2022 by Mr G. Baker

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.