Cemeteries & Crematoria NSW (CCNSW) is a statutory agency created in 2014 under the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013.
Our vision is that all people in New South Wales have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services that are respectful of culture and faith and provided in a consistent, transparent and accountable manner.
We regulate cemetery and crematorium operators and empower the public to make informed decisions during life’s most sensitive times.
In October 2022, we introduced the Interment Industry Scheme following extensive consultation with operators and the community. The scheme is a regulatory framework that improves outcomes for the people of New South Wales by setting clear standards in relation to consumer contracts, maintenance, pricing transparency, customer service and religious, cultural and spiritual principles.
What we do
Our work is guided by a commitment to ensure fair, transparent and respectful interment services for all NSW communities.
We oversee cemetery and crematorium operators to ensure services meet community expectations, including respect for the diverse religious and cultural beliefs of all people of NSW.
We empower the public with clear, accessible information on the interment (burial and cremation) industry, helping families understand their rights and make confident decisions.
We assess the burial and cremation needs to improve affordability and accessibility for everyone, working to ensure sufficient cemetery space is available for NSW’s growing population.
As an independent regulatory agency, from 1 July 2025, CCNSW will be led by a statutorily appointed CEO, drawing input from our Community and Consumer Consultative Group and Industry Consultative Group.
Our second strategic plan will build on our achievements to date and fulfil our agency’s potential as a strong and capable regulator of the industry.
We regulate cemetery and crematorium operators that provide burial and cremation services in NSW.
In March 2024, the NSW Government released the strategic statement, delivering strong consumer outcomes for cemeteries and crematoria in NSW.
The compliance plan for 2025-2027 builds on the regulatory framework and outlines how we will work with operators to increase industry compliance over the next two years.
The NSW Government has introduced amendments to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 into Parliament that will strengthen and improve the state’s cemeteries and crematoria sector and support the community and industry.
Our roles
The Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013 has 9 key objectives which guide what we do and can be divided into 3 categories:
- Oversee a consistent system of interment rights across NSW.
- Develop and maintain a regulatory framework to address trends and emerging issues for the interment industry.
- Ensure that cemetery and crematorium operators demonstrate accountability, transparency and integrity.
- Ensure that cemeteries on public land are managed sustainably and in accordance with best practice.
- Ensure the interment practices and beliefs of all religious and cultural groups are respected.
- Promote affordable and accessible interment practices and help the community understand and compare the costs and service levels of burial and cremation services.
- Hold an up-to-date register of all cemeteries and crematoria in NSW.
- Provide analysis about cemetery capacity and demand to ensure enough land is acquired and allocated to meet cemetery needs.
- Promote the environmental sustainability of the interment industry.
Publications, reports and media
Read about CCNSW publications, reports and media.
About publications, reports and media