The proposed sale of Anglican Church properties throughout the State has caused great stress and confusion for many Tasmanians, particularly those in the electorate of Prosser.
Churches are an important part of the community. A loss of a local church would have similar ramifications to a community losing its school, as churches play a significant role in the spiritual, mental and social fabric of small communities.
While I understand the Anglican Church is seeking to divest itself of properties in part to fund its liability to the National Redress Scheme, it has seemingly ignored the concerns of parishioners and the community.
This week, as part of the Hodgman majority Liberal Government, I worked to pass the Burial and Cremation Amendment Bill 2018 which is an important step in preserving, protecting and, where appropriate, strengthening the rights of community members and cemetery managers.
As the Attorney-General Elise Archer has stated already, these reforms were developed following extensive consultation with the community and cemetery managers. These reforms strike the right balance between protecting the community, while also enabling cemetery managers to do their important work without undue regulatory burden.
I urge leaders of the Anglican Church to follow this example and listen to the concerns of their community when they soon make their final deliberation on local church sales.
