KARRAKATTA CEMETERY —
HEADSTONE REMOVAL
1147. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the Leader of the House representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I thank the minister for the answer
he provided to my question on Karrakatta renewal practices asked and answered
on 2 December 2021. I take this opportunity to draw his attention to an article
in the Post, dated 6 November 2021, by Bonnie Christian entitled ''Wrecked
war grave saddens Beazley''. With that additional background, I ask the minister: when the headstone marking the legally
recognised, official war grave of any fallen soldier, let alone the grandfather
of an ex-federal Labor leader and the Governor of this state, is removed and
destroyed without reference to the family, is it not past time that the
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board practices around renewal were halted while a proper
investigation by an impartial body is conducted into the desirability of this
dubious and, frankly, odious practice?
The PRESIDENT: Before I give
the call to the Leader of the House, I take the opportunity to remind the
honourable member of standing order 105 that requires questions to be concise.
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The
Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and the Office of Australian War Graves signed a memorandum
of understanding in 2008 to specify the activities between the MCB and
the OAWG in relation to the retention of World War I and World War II war graves and memorials in
cemeteries controlled and managed by the MCB. Since the memorandum was signed, all official war grave monuments are
retained in their original grave position and are not affected by renewal
programs. Prior to 2008, transfer of war grave monuments was subject to
approval by the OAWG. The process of cemetery renewal is subject to extensive
consultation prior to any removal of monuments.