Burial Fees, Infants and Children

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (15:36): Today, there is a story on the front page of the Naracoorte Community News. It does have the byline 'Council Decision Sparks Backlash', and rightly so. Before I go into the decision made by the Naracoorte Lucindale Council last week, I would like to start with something somewhat more positive. In the last few months, our Select Committee into Stillbirth has written to our South Australian councils asking them to consider waiving burial fees and other costs associated with burying an infant or child in a council cemetery. I would like to acknowledge the compassion shown by the Light Regional Council, the District Council of Peterborough, the District Council of Robe and a few others in recent weeks, successfully moving motions to waive burial fees and related costs for infants and children up to the age of 10.

I will also acknowledge Berri, Barmera and Salisbury, who have already done the same, as well as Barunga West and Wattle Range, who already have these policies in place. A few others have suggested to us that we they will consider similar movements in their own councils in coming months. There is, however, one anomaly that I am aware of. Last week, in response to a letter written and signed by the Select Committee into Stillbirth of this parliament, the Naracoorte Lucindale Council voted against a motion to waive burial fees and related costs for infants and children up to the age of 10.

For context, there are approximately two to three infant deaths in that council area per year, with an associated cost of $625 for burial and $1,258 for cremation. On those stats, the council would be spending maybe $2,000 or $3,000 a year to show compassion to bereaved families in their communities. But, no. They have however—though I am not begrudging workers being fed when working in the evening—approved a budget line to have $8,500 for elected members' meals and drinks following council meetings, which is of course being met with significant criticism from members in the community.

Not only was the decision met with criticism, but there are a number of community members who have found the commentary during their deliberations outright offensive. One councillor who voted against the motion, was quoted as saying that waiving fees would be seeking to set out that this is a different type of grief, which he of course disagreed with. Yes, of course, that is entirely the point of what we are asking; we do believe it is a different kind of grief.

Losing a baby or a child is definitely a different kind of grief. Conceiving, sharing that with your family, setting up a nursery, buying a pram, buying a cot, having a baby shower, packing your baby bag, going into the hospital and coming home without a baby—particularly at a time when your friends and people around you are bringing home healthy, happy babies—is a different kind of grief. That is exactly why we are asking councils like Naracoorte Lucindale to show compassion to these families during what is the most traumatic period of their lives.

The devastation of losing a little one is also different, knowing that you have been stripped of the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays, their school graduations, their weddings. It is a different kind of grief, and that is of course the point.

Another councillor suggested that we could not possibly compare the grief to that of a ratepayer who had been paying rates for 60-plus years, as if that little child's contribution was less than that. Unfortunately, I feel this is quite a slap in the face for those families who would have done anything for their child to grow up and have the privilege of one day paying rates. I would like to acknowledge the compassion shown by councillors McGuire, Crossling and Ross, as well acknowledge the many people who have commented on the live feed of the council meeting—asking them to reconsider, sharing their experiences of loss and asking that council to show compassion.

In this time of grief families are often being shown deep compassion and understanding by private businesses, local businesses and, of course, members of the community. For only one group to reject that acknowledgement, particularly a group that perhaps they are paying rates to, or perhaps the grandparents of that child are paying rates to, is particularly stark.

Being a bereaved parent is often described as a club that no one signed up to but that is a club that continually speaks out and fights for change, for compassion and for acknowledgement that a little one has mattered and counted. That club is of course even more isolating in regional communities, and Naracoorte Lucindale is no exception. One mother spoke to The Advertiser today about losing her 18-month-old daughter 22 years ago and how it was the worst thing that ever happened to her. She was calling on the council to reconsider their decision.

A number of bereaved families in that community are calling on the council to reconsider their decision, and I am calling on the Naracoorte Lucindale Council to reconsider their decision and show compassion to bereaved families during the most difficult time of their lives.