The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has questioned Premier Jacinta Allan on whether the Victorian Government will recognise funeral services as an essential service within legislative and emergency planning frameworks.
A Mildura funeral home director recently contacted Ms Benham, warning funeral services are not consistently recognised as essential across Australia, creating risks for providers, particularly during fuel shortages or emergencies.
“Funeral services are a critical and time-sensitive part of the broader health and community care system,” Ms Benham said. “They support families at the time of death and are closely linked to hospitals, aged care and coronial services. These are not services that can be delayed or deferred.”
Funeral providers rely heavily on diesel-powered vehicles to attend places of death, transport the deceased and conduct services across multiple locations. In regional areas, this often involves significant travel distances, making reliable access to fuel essential.
Ms Benham said the lack of formal recognition within emergency and fuel allocation frameworks creates uncertainty, particularly if fuel supply tightens and priority access is limited to recognised essential services.
She said it is critical the Allan Labor Government provides assurance that funeral service providers will have access to the fuel they need to continue operating.
“This is not a theoretical concern,” Ms Benham said. “Without priority access to fuel, regional funeral providers risk being unable to carry out their duties. This will directly impact families and communities at a time when they are most vulnerable.”
