Mr SETTER - 1994-10-05
Members will recall the problems that developed over the question of whether the Greek Orthodox community in Darwin would have a special area allocated to it at the Thorak Cemetery. I understand that the minister has been involved in negotiations with regard to this matter. Has the issue been resolved? Has the Northern Territory government intervened in any way to assist in the resolution of this matter?
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can advise that this very contentious and emotional issue has been resolved satisfactorily. Effectively, Thorak Cemetery is operated by the 3 councils nearby - the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield councils - through a joint Cemeteries Board as a regional cemetery. When Thorak Cemetery was developed, a decision was taken by the Cemeteries Board that it would be a non-denominational cemetery because that would result in certain efficiencies in its operation.
During the course of this year, the Greek Orthodox community in particular raised some quite serious concerns because of its particular religious practices associated with death, mourning and burial. It was very keen to have a special section of Thorak Cemetery for members of the Greek Orthodox religion. This is not the first time that this matter has arisen. The Buddhist and Hindu communities in Darwin had raised concerns previously. Although their need was for religious purposes, others raised the same issue for non-religious purposes. They were very keen to have a crematorium constructed at Thorak Cemetery, and the government accommodated that request. Mr Speaker, I believe you were actively involved in achieving the construction of the crematorium at Thorak Cemetery. Other processes associated with that have been addressed.
The Minister for Ethnic Affairs and I followed this matter through, and not only in respect of the issues raised by the Greek Orthodox community. In fact, my ministerial colleague met with the Ethnic Affairs Council and with a range of religious and ethnic groups in the Northern Territory to assess the seriousness of this issue of denominational facilities at Thorak Cemetery. We understood from that meeting that the Greek Orthodox community had a particular concern, and we entered into discussions with the Cemeteries Board to encourage it to establish a denominational cemetery.
As a result of several months of discussion and negotiation, agreement has been reached with the Cemeteries Board for the construction, as part of stage 2 of Thorak Cemetery, of a small area of the cemetery that will be set aside and developed to accommodate the needs of the Greek Orthodox community. The Northern Territory government will provide funding assistance to the Cemeteries Board to develop that area, certainly many years ahead of when it otherwise would have been developed, without adversely affecting the utilisation of the current layout of the cemetery.
It is recognised that there may be other religious or ethnic groups that may approach the Cemeteries Board for specific areas for their own religious or cultural purposes within Thorak Cemetery. The government and the Cemeteries Board have developed an agreement that will enable those reasonable and proper needs to be accommodated. Burial processes are a very important part of people's culture and religion, and we need to be very sensitive to that. Although a non-denominational cemetery does have advantages, certainly efficiency advantages, as a multicultural community, we need to be sensitive and to react to these very important needs. I am pleased to advise that the matter has been resolved and that a denominational part of the cemetery for the orthodox religions will be constructed at the earliest opportunity.
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Page 173
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I can advise that this very contentious and emotional issue has been resolved satisfactorily. Effectively, Thorak Cemetery is operated by the 3 councils nearby - the Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield councils - through a joint Cemeteries Board as a regional cemetery. When Thorak Cemetery was developed, a decision was taken by the Cemeteries Board that it would be a non-denominational cemetery because that would result in certain efficiencies in its operation.
During the course of this year, the Greek Orthodox community in particular raised some quite serious concerns because of its particular religious practices associated with death, mourning and burial. It was very keen to have a special section of Thorak Cemetery for members of the Greek Orthodox religion. This is not the first time that this matter has arisen. The Buddhist and Hindu communities in Darwin had raised concerns previously. Although their need was for religious purposes, others raised the same issue for non-religious purposes. They were very keen to have a crematorium constructed at Thorak Cemetery, and the government accommodated that request. Mr Speaker, I believe you were actively involved in achieving the construction of the crematorium at Thorak Cemetery. Other processes associated with that have been addressed.
The Minister for Ethnic Affairs and I followed this matter through, and not only in respect of the issues raised by the Greek Orthodox community. In fact, my ministerial colleague met with the Ethnic Affairs Council and with a range of religious and ethnic groups in the Northern Territory to assess the seriousness of this issue of denominational facilities at Thorak Cemetery. We understood from that meeting that the Greek Orthodox community had a particular concern, and we entered into discussions with the Cemeteries Board to encourage it to establish a denominational cemetery.
As a result of several months of discussion and negotiation, agreement has been reached with the Cemeteries Board for the construction, as part of stage 2 of Thorak Cemetery, of a small area of the cemetery that will be set aside and developed to accommodate the needs of the Greek Orthodox community. The Northern Territory government will provide funding assistance to the Cemeteries Board to develop that area, certainly many years ahead of when it otherwise would have been developed, without adversely affecting the utilisation of the current layout of the cemetery.
It is recognised that there may be other religious or ethnic groups that may approach the Cemeteries Board for specific areas for their own religious or cultural purposes within Thorak Cemetery. The government and the Cemeteries Board have developed an agreement that will enable those reasonable and proper needs to be accommodated. Burial processes are a very important part of people's culture and religion, and we need to be very sensitive to that. Although a non-denominational cemetery does have advantages, certainly efficiency advantages, as a multicultural community, we need to be sensitive and to react to these very important needs. I am pleased to advise that the matter has been resolved and that a denominational part of the cemetery for the orthodox religions will be constructed at the earliest opportunity.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016