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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-10-18 Daily Xml
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Cemetery Vandalism

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about cemetery vandalism in our regions.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: On 7 October 2022, the ABC reported that vandals had senselessly desecrated and damaged more than 10 headstones at a cemetery in Crystal Brook in South Australia's Mid North. The families and loved ones affected by this heartless vandalism attack have been told by the Port Pirie Regional Council that, even though the council owns the cemetery land, the damage cannot be claimed through the council's insurance and families will be left to pick up the bill themselves, with some quoted thousands of dollars to repair the damage. The CEO of the Port Pirie Regional Council has written to the Labor government seeking $30,000 in financial assistance to help repair the damage. My questions to the minister are:

1. With the cost-of-living pressures skyrocketing, will the government commit to assisting affected families to repair or replace their loved ones' headstones so they are not left out of pocket by this heartless act of vandalism?

2. Will the minister advocate for the families impacted?

3. What follow-up actions will the government undertake in response to the request from the Port Pirie Regional Council for financial assistance?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:57): I thank the honourable member for her question. I would expect that probably all of us are very concerned at seeing vandalism at any time but particularly in cemeteries. We know that cemeteries are such an important part of the grieving process. It's a place that we can go to honour our loved ones, to remember them and sometimes to be together as families as we think about those who we have lost. The honourable member mentioned that this is in regard to the local government situation, and I will refer it to the relevant minister in the other place.

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