State governments in New South Wales and Queensland are burying impoverished Australians, rough sleepers, and Vietnam veterans in unmarked communal graves often holding four or more people, according to an investigation by Guardian Australia. The report established that the New South Wales government uses bare stretches of earth at Rookwood cemetery in Sydney to inter four to six strangers together in single plots.
Investigation Findings at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney
The Guardian’s analysis of cemetery registries, aerial imagery, and evidence from family, friends, and the homelessness sector revealed that more than 100 unmarked graves exist across New South Wales, alongside some in Queensland. In the first half of this year alone, a 17-metre stretch of earth adjacent to a dirt pathway at Rookwood cemetery was dug up to bury the remains of more than 40 people in unmarked communal graves. Among those buried in these shared plots are war veterans, cancer sufferers, people dealing with severe mental illness and gambling addictions, and migrants whose families cannot afford repatriation costs.
Inspections of hundreds of burials at Rookwood since 2010 show that only about a dozen are marked with crosses or plaques. The vast majority feature no headstones, signs, or plaques to identify the groups of deceased resting in each plot. Older sites appear simply as settled stretches of grass.
Did You Know? The New South Wales government previously pledged to stop using unmarked graves for destitute burials following lobbying by Barbara Davis, whose foster daughter Christine Halpin was buried in Rookwood in 1989 without family notification.
Charity leaders report exclusion from burial decisions
Homelessness sector leaders in Sydney reported they were never informed about the communal burial practice, denying them the opportunity to intervene and fund proper burials for their clients. The Rev Bill Crews Foundation, an inner-city Sydney homelessness charity, stated it repeatedly raised concerns with the state government regarding unmarked communal graves but was ignored. Rev Bill Crews identified three of his clients among those buried in the communal plots without notification, noting that his foundation regularly uses its own funds to conduct proper funeral services and cremations for rough sleepers.
Veterans buried without accessing available federal funds
The investigation also established that two Vietnam War veterans who served in the Royal Australian Navy were buried in unmarked communal graves in 2024 and 2025. These burials occurred despite the availability of a federal funding program run by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to assist with the funerals of impoverished veterans. Although New South Wales policy recommends that state health authorities approach the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in such circumstances, the department confirmed it was never asked for funding and has not been approached to help fund destitute burials since 2020.
The findings prompted an apology from a NSW Health Pathology spokesperson, who acknowledged that deceased individuals, families, and friends were not always treated with dignity and respect. Ryan Park, the New South Wales health minister, described the failings as unacceptable. NSW Health stated it made changes in 2025 and recent months to improve handling procedures, including giving NSW Health greater control in place of police and establishing a dedicated six-person team within NSW Health Pathology to seek alternative funeral arrangements and support. Metropolitan Memorial Parks, which operates Rookwood general cemetery, stated that the state government does not fund it to provide grave markings for persons without means, and noted that destitute burials are not the only type using multiple interments in a single plot.
Investigation identifies unmarked graves across states
How many unmarked graves were identified in the investigation?
Guardian Australia identified more than 100 unmarked graves across New South Wales, along with some in Queensland, used by state governments to bury individuals deemed too poor to afford their own funerals.
Were the families of deceased veterans notified before the burials?
The Department of Veterans Affairs was never asked for funding for the 2024 and 2025 veteran burials.
What changes has NSW Health implemented in response to the findings?
NSW Health stated it established a more person-centred approach, gave NSW Health greater control in place of police, and created a dedicated six-person team within NSW Health Pathology to secure alternative funeral arrangements and support.
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