Funeral price transparency consultation
Arranging a funeral can be an emotional process, sometimes with added time pressures if the death of a loved one was unexpected.
Funerals can also involve significant expenditure. They are an infrequent purchase, during what can often be a stressful and emotional time. The decision-making ability of people can be impacted by their vulnerable state, time constraints, family wishes and cultural expectations or pressures.
People are generally unfamiliar with the available options and the prices involved with arranging a funeral. They may be offered a bundle of goods and services, but be unaware which of these are required and which are optional.
A lack of easy to understand, upfront price information can make it difficult to decide which option best suits their needs.
Options for change
The Attorney-General released an options paper on funeral price transparency with 3 options:
- implementing a regulation under the Fair Trading Act 1989
- amending the current voluntary Queensland Funeral Industry Code of Conduct
- maintaining the status quo.
Submissions were received from consumers, industry, and other stakeholders about the options contained in the paper and now further consideration will be given to the next steps.
This consultation closed on 7 October 2021.
More information
Options paper: Funeral industry price transparency