Home / Crime and Justice / Disgrace: Communal Graves for Veterans, Homeless
Disgrace: Communal Graves for Veterans, Homeless
5 Oct
Summary
- Destitute Australians buried in unmarked communal graves, often with multiple occupants.
- Investigation reveals over 100 unmarked graves in NSW, some in Queensland.
- Failures meant families weren't notified of unmarked and common grave burials.
An investigation has revealed that impoverished Australians, including war veterans and the homeless, are being interred in unmarked communal graves across New South Wales, with some cases also noted in Queensland. These graves frequently hold four or more individuals, a practice relatives have condemned as 'unspeakable' and 'a disgrace.'
Guardian Australia's analysis of cemetery registries and aerial imagery identified over 100 unmarked graves at Rookwood cemetery in Sydney alone. Among the deceased are veterans, cancer sufferers, and individuals with severe mental health issues, whose families could not afford repatriation costs.
In a concerning number of cases, authorities failed to contact or inform friends and family about the use of unmarked communal graves. This oversight has led to significant distress for relatives, who felt robbed of the opportunity for proper farewells. The homelessness sector expressed outrage, with some charities reporting being repeatedly ignored by the state government on this issue.
Specifically, two Vietnam veterans were buried in unmarked communal graves in 2024 and 2025, despite federal funding being available. NSW Health has since apologized for the failings, acknowledging that the deceased and their families were not always treated with dignity. Changes have been made to the process in 2025 and recently, giving NSW Health greater control and establishing a dedicated team to improve funeral arrangements and seek alternative support and funding.
