Overview

A recent investigation by Guardian Australia has uncovered a troubling practice in which state governments are burying impoverished Australians, including war veterans and homeless individuals, in unmarked communal graves. This practice has been described by relatives as "unspeakable" and "a disgrace."

Investigation Findings

The investigation identified over 100 unmarked graves across New South Wales and some in Queensland. These graves are often used for individuals deemed too poor to afford a proper funeral. Evidence gathered from family members, friends, and the homelessness sector, along with cemetery registries and aerial imagery, revealed that the NSW government has been burying the remains of four to six individuals together in communal graves at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

Among those buried in these graves are:

  • War veterans
  • Cancer sufferers
  • Individuals with gambling addictions and severe mental illness
  • Migrants from developing countries unable to afford repatriation costs

In at least six instances, authorities failed to notify friends, family, or support workers about the use of unmarked graves, likely breaching a NSW policy intended to prevent unnecessary distress.

Family Reactions

Relatives of the deceased have expressed outrage. Chantel Dubsky, whose brother Roger Davies, a rough sleeper, was buried without her knowledge, stated:

“

"He should have had the opportunity to be laid to rest with his mother, his grandparents and the people he loved."

By cross-referencing names with homelessness services, the investigation identified an additional 18 individuals in communal graves who had experienced homelessness.