[Greens-Media] Iemma government blocks regulation of funeral industry

[John Kaye]

Iemma government blocks regulation of funeral industry
 
Media Release: 28 June 2007
 
The NSW state government used its Shooter party allies and Fred Nile to
block moves to create a mandatory code of conduct for the funeral
industry, according Greens NSW MP and consumer affairs spokesperson John
Kaye.
 
Dr Kaye said: "When an industry asks for regulation then it is foolish
to ignore them. When that call is backed by consumer groups, the welfare
sector and pensioner groups then it is inexcusable negligence to not
act.
 
"The real losers are the honest and caring funeral directors and the
bereaved. They are victims of the Iemma government's irrational
opposition to a mandatory code. 
 
"The winners are the tiny percentage of operators who will continue to
prey on the bereaved.
 
"It looks like the Iemma government and the Minister had backed
themselves into a corner and could not find a sensible way out. So they
called in their allies, the Shooters and Fred Nile, and bulldozed their
way through to block the industry's call for enforceable minimum
standards.
 
"It speaks volumes about the Iemma government that they failed to
listen to such a broad-based call for mandatory codes.
 
“The government ignored the evidence of body mix-ups, offensive and
inappropriate treatment of bodies and poorly behaved funeral service
operators.
 
“They ignored the pleas of the overwhelming majority of respectable and
caring operators.
 
“And they ignored the recommendations of the Labor-dominated
parliamentary committee.
 
“They had the numbers and they didn’t need to worry about the arguments
for regulation,” Dr Kaye said. 
 
 
For more information:John Kaye 0407 195 455 
 
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John Kaye
Greens member of the NSW Parliament
phone: (02) 9230 2668
fax: (02) 9230 2586
mobile: 0407 195 455
email: John.Kaye at parliament.nsw.gov.au
 
mail: Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney NSW 2000