HUMAN REMAINS

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:52): My question is to the Attorney-General. Why have the remains of Sophie Dauncey and Edward Drew not been reburied or cremated or re-interred since their burial site was unearthed on 14 June 2005?

Nearly three years ago, an 1860s crypt containing three coffins was unearthed during excavation of a property at St Georges. Despite much correspondence from me and others to the Attorney-General urging that legislation be introduced to amend both the Cremation Act and the Births, Deaths and Marriages Act in order to allow the bodies to be respectfully disposed of or re-interred, that legislation was not passed until May or June 2006.

The Attorney-General noted at the time that 'they are stored safely at a funeral director's premises, and what the relatives, the descendants, would like is for these bones to be disposed of in a respectful and regular manner. Changes to that law allow that to happen.' Later that year it was claimed that the remains were of Sophie Dauncey and Edward Drew, her brother. The remains are still stored after three years in a funeral parlour in Adelaide.

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:53): I shall get a report on the matter.