The investigation found that plots at Rookwood Cemetery often contain between four and six unrelated individuals. Among those buried in the unmarked communal graves are Vietnam veterans, rough sleepers, people with gambling addictions, and migrants from developing countries.
New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park stated he was not previously aware of the way the graves were being used by his government. He has tasked his department with exploring reforms, including emulating the Victorian model, where individuals receive their own plot and marking at a cost of roughly $3,000 per funeral. "I think it's something that we need to do better," Park said. "Quite clearly, the dignity of those who have passed, as well as for their families, is something that we need to take into consideration, and we need to do this better."
Independent Senator David Pocock has urged Mr Albanese to raise the issue at national cabinet to ensure a uniform agreement across states and territories. "Being poor in a country as wealthy as Australia should not condemn you to an unmarked communal grave," Pocock said. "How we treat our most vulnerable, including in death, goes to our values and who we are as a country."
The political response crossed party lines. Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel Phillip Thompson described the burials of war veterans as "deeply concerning", while the Guardian reported condemnation from federal Liberal MPs, state Labor ministers, and the Greens.