A Sunday Mail investigation alleges that rogue funeral operators are ignoring public health risks and ripping off grieving families.

Attorney-General Paul Lucas said yesterday that a mandatory, state-sanctioned code of conduct would help clean up the industry.

An industry whistleblower and another long-term legitimate operator detailed how dodgy funeral operators:

• Stuff into coffins infectious waste material containing bodily fluids to save money in infectious waste collection;
• Refuse to dress bodies, throwing clothes provided by grieving families into coffins;
• Risk a mix-up of bodies by transporting deceased to other parts of the state for funeral preparation;
• Slug parents burying a child with the cost of an adult-size coffin.

 

Funeral operators could be made to meet strict new standards to be enforced with penalties for the first time.

 

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