Thursday, 2 April 2026

 Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (14:45): (1616) My question today is to the Premier and comes from Taryn Hunt, managing director at McGlynn Hunt Funerals. The question is: will the Labor government recognise funeral services as an essential service within the legislative and emergency planning frameworks in Victoria? As we might recall, one of the very necessary services that was not deemed an essential service during COVID was funeral services. At present, funeral services are not consistently recognised as an essential service within legislative or emergency planning frameworks right across Australia. Funeral services are a critical and time-sensitive part of the broader health and community care system and are closely linked to hospitals, aged care facilities, coronial services and community infrastructure. These services cannot be delayed or deferred. The operations rely heavily on transport, particularly diesel-powered vehicles, to attend places of death and transfer the deceased into care, and they often involve significant travel distances, particularly in our region. There is a growing concern within the industry about tightening fuel supply and the possibility of fuel rationing.