An investigation by Guardian Australia has uncovered that state governments in New South Wales and Queensland are burying impoverished Australians, including Vietnam veterans and rough sleepers, in unmarked communal graves. Relatives have described this practice as "unspeakable" and "a disgrace."
The investigation identified over 100 unmarked graves in New South Wales and some in Queensland, used for individuals deemed too poor to afford their own funerals. At Rookwood cemetery in Sydney, the NSW government is reportedly using bare stretches of earth to bury four to six strangers together.
Among those buried in these communal graves are war veterans, cancer sufferers, individuals with gambling addictions and severe mental illness, and migrants whose families cannot afford repatriation costs. In at least six instances, authorities reportedly failed to contact friends, family, or support workers, or inform them about the use of unmarked and common graves, which may be breaches of NSW policy.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) was not approached for funding for the burials of two Vietnam war veterans in 2024 and 2025, despite a federal program being available for impoverished veterans' funerals. DVA stated it has not been asked to fund destitute burials since 2020.
NSW Health has issued an apology following the investigation, with Health Minister Ryan Park describing the failings as "unacceptable." Changes to improve the process have been flagged.