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QLD Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation

From 1 July 2022 funeral directors in Queensland are required to display an itemised price list on their business websites and in-store to comply with the Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation 2022.

The price of your least expensive package for consumers wanting a simple funeral also needs to be displayed. The regulation aims to introduce greater price transparency for consumers, as well as create a level playing field and a more competitive market for businesses.

What do funeral directors need to do? From 1 July 2022, all QLD funeral directors must display information on the price of goods and services they offer for burials and cremations. This information is called funeral information and it must be displayed at each place of business and on any public website maintained by the funeral director.

Funeral information includes: • The price of each of the following:

- the transport of the body before burial or cremation

- the storage of the body at a mortuary or holding room

- the hire of a refrigeration plate

- each type of coffin, casket or shroud, or the price range for all coffins, caskets, or shrouds supplied by the funeral director - the care and preparation of the body before burial or cremation

- a viewing of the body before burial or cremation

- the arrangement and conduct of a funeral service, including the hire of a venue

- the burial or cremation of the body.

• The location of the mortuary or crematorium used by the funeral director.

• If the funeral director uses a mortuary or crematorium that is not owned or managed by the funeral director, the name of the owner or manager.

• A reasonable estimate of the following:

- the cost of obtaining a death certificate from the registrar under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003

- the costs of getting any certificates or permits needed under an Act in relation to the body including, for example, a permission to cremate the body under the Cremations Act 2003

- any fee charged by a cemetery or crematorium for the burial or cremation of a body supplied by the funeral director.

• The price of the least expensive combination, or least expensive package, of goods and services offered by the funeral director. This is in addition to the itemised price list of goods and services.

• How a body is transported before burial or cremation.

Requirement to display and give information Under the regulation, there is a requirement to prominently display funeral information at each place of business and on the business website. This may include (but not be limited to):

• A brochure of funeral information displayed on the reception counter of each place of business.

• A link on the homepage of the funeral director’s website in larger and/or contrasting font linking to the funeral information. If a customer requests a cost-itemised quote before entering an agreement to carry out a funeral, the funeral director will have to provide the quote within 48 hours (or longer if agreed), or before the agreement is signed, whichever happens first.

A funeral director must not enter into an agreement with a customer for the supply of goods and services for burial or cremation unless the funeral director has given the following information:

• An itemised price list of each good or service that will be supplied under the agreement.

• The cost of all disbursements.

• The total amount payable by the customer.

To help QLD funeral directors meet their obligations the QLD Office of Fair Trading has published information on its website along with an industry compliance checklist, a sample price list and some frequently asked questions and answers. Please note that Fair Trading will be checking the websites of all QLD funeral directors and may also make spot visits to premises to ensure that there is compliance with the new regulation. For a copy of the regulation visit www.legislation.qld.gov.au

Funeral industry price transparency checklist

This checklist is designed to help you and your business comply with the new rules around funeral pricing and provide you with best practice guidance. It is not a comprehensive statement of the law and should be used in conjunction with the Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation 2022. For a copy of the Regulation, visit www.legislation.qld.gov.au

About the pricing rules

If you are a funeral director or your business arranges and conducts funerals in Queensland, from 1 July 2022 you must comply with the Fair Trading (Funeral Pricing) Regulation 2022 which requires you to display an itemised price list on your business website and in-store.

The regulation aims to introduce greater price transparency for consumers as well as create a level playing field and more competitive market for businesses. For more information about the price transparency rules, visit www.qld.gov.au/fairtrading

Is your business ready for 1 July?

Are you prominently displaying itemised funeral pricing at each place of business for the goods and services you offer?

You maintain an itemised price list for the products and services you offer. You can find a sample price list on our website. Your itemised price list includes your least expensive package for consumers wanting a simple funeral. Your itemised price list is prominently displayed via a brochure or sign in the reception area for each of your locations.

Are you prominently displaying itemised funeral pricing on your website (or public digital presence maintained by you) for the goods and services you offer?

Your home or landing page, or your website’s menu, has clearly identified direct links to your itemised price list.

Consumers do not have to click or scroll through several pages to find the links or pricing information. Headings, labels and links for pricing information are clear and easily identifiable. Funeral pricing information is not ‘hidden’ under more generic headings, such as FAQs or Other Information web pages. Font sizes and colours used for links and pricing information are easy to read. All information is located on the same web page so consumers can readily determine the total cost and information.

THE FUNERAL BOND/PREPAID

OFFERING INVESTMENT CHOICE

Since 2017 we have been offering two growth investment options – Conservative and Moderate – alongside our regular Capital Guaranteed investment option. As funeral costs continue to rise, it is important to generate a level of growth in policy value that covers the anticipated cost of a funeral when a service is needed. Tied to the performance of financial markets these growth orientated investment options are designed to provide returns greater than inflation and an option for investors not requiring a capital guarantee.

For more information regarding our investment options please call 1800 804 731 or email funeral.plans@lifeplan.com.au

To review the latest Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the changes to the Travel Protection Insurance please visit www.fpmanagement.com.au/

David Clarke Business Development Manager Funeral Plan Management