A public consultation to seek feedback from the community and the funeral industry on the experience and operation of the Fair Trading (Prepaid Funerals Code of Practice) Regulations 2020 (WA) (Prepaid Funerals Code) closed on 13 September 2023.
The Prepaid Funerals Code, which came into effect from March 2021, ensures funds are managed within secure investments. It sets rules around contracts and costs, ensuring consumers have clarity about the funeral they have purchased. More information is available for consumers on funerals page or for businesses on selling funerals page.
As the Fair Trading Act 2010 (WA) (the Act) allows for a code of practice to be made for an initial three-year period, the Prepaid Funerals Code had an expiry date of 29 February 2024. The Act permits the removal of the expiry date, if the Commissioner for Consumer Protection undertakes a review of the Prepaid Funerals Code involving consultation before the expiry date.
Consultation
Consumer Protection has reviewed how the Prepaid Funerals Code is working. Feedback was sought from the community and funeral industry on their experiences with the Prepaid Funerals Code via an online survey. The survey closed on Tuesday 26 September 2023.
A total of four survey responses and one written submission were received. Based on the feedback analysed from the consultation, it was determined that the Prepaid Funerals Code is working as intended.
Next step
The Prepaid Funerals Code has been amended to remove the expiry date and is now published.
The Prepaid Funerals Code will continue to impose requirements on the sellers of prepaid funerals to give consumers greater consistency, clarity and certainty when entering into a prepaid funeral contract.
Enquiries
Enquiries about the Prepaid Funerals Code can be made by calling Consumer Protection Advice Line on 1300 30 40 54 or by email.