An investigation has revealed that hundreds of impoverished Australians, including war veterans and those experiencing homelessness, are being buried in unmarked communal graves in New South Wales and Queensland. These graves often hold multiple individuals, with some containing four to six strangers buried together.
The practice, described by relatives as “unspeakable” and “a disgrace,” involves state governments using bare earth at cemeteries like Rookwood in Sydney for these burials. Families and friends report being unaware of these arrangements, leading to feelings of being “robbed” of the chance to provide a proper burial for their loved ones.
Failures by authorities meant that in at least six cases, friends or family were not contacted or informed about the use of unmarked and common graves, potentially breaching NSW policy aimed at avoiding distress. The homelessness sector has expressed outrage, with some organizations stating they were not made aware of the practice and thus could not intervene to fund appropriate burials for their clients.
NSW Health has apologized for the failings, acknowledging that the deceased and their families were not always treated with dignity and respect. Changes have been made to improve the process, following criticism from the health minister, who called the failings “unacceptable.”
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Source: theguardian.com
