Cremation Tasmania: Requirements, Permits, Costs, and the Medical Referee Process

Cremation in Tasmania involves a secondary medical safeguard that most families don't know about until they're told the funeral must wait for a second doctor's examination. Under Regulation 55 of the Burial and Cremation Regulations 2025, a cremation cannot proceed until an independent medical referee — a doctor entirely separate from the one who certified the death — physically examines the body and signs a cremation permit.

This dual-doctor system exists to prevent the destruction of forensic evidence. It adds time to the process, costs money, and catches families off guard when they've already announced the funeral date.

The Cremation Permit Process

To cremate a body in Tasmania, the Senior Next of Kin or the Executor must apply in writing to a medical practitioner for a Cremation Permit. However, the doctor who issues this permit must meet strict independence requirements:

• They cannot be the doctor who issued the original Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD)
• They cannot be a relative or partner of the deceased
• They cannot be employed by the certifying doctor
• They cannot be a relative, partner, or employee of the funeral director

This independent medical referee must physically examine the deceased's body — not just review paperwork — and independently verify that the cause of death is accurate, that the death is not reportable to the Coroner, and that all implanted medical devices have been removed.

If the medical referee is not satisfied on any of these points, they are legally required to refuse the cremation permit and report the death to the Coroner. The cremation cannot proceed until the Coroner clears the case.

The Pacemaker and Implant Requirement

Before a cremation can proceed, all battery-operated implanted medical devices must be removed from the body. This is a non-negotiable safety requirement — pacemakers and similar devices contain lithium batteries that explode violently inside a cremator, posing serious risks to staff and damaging equipment.

The medical referee must explicitly confirm that:

• Any cardiac pacemaker has been surgically removed
• Any implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been removed
• Any other battery-operated implant has been identified and removed

Removal is typically performed by the funeral director or a medical professional. The family should inform the funeral director of any known implants before the cremation process begins.

What Cremation Costs in Tasmania

Cremation costs in Tasmania vary significantly depending on the type of service:

• Direct cremation (no service, no attendance): Starting from approximately $1,500–$2,000. This is the most affordable option — the body goes directly to the crematorium with no ceremony.
• Cremation with a chapel service: Typically $3,000–$6,000, depending on the funeral director and the level of service.
• Full funeral service followed by cremation: $5,000–$10,000+, including venue hire, coffin, flowers, hearse, and director's professional fees.

These figures do not include additional costs such as death certificates ($65.96 from BDM Tasmania), medical referee fees, or urn and memorial costs.

The Australian Consumer Law requires funeral directors to provide clear, itemised pricing. You have the right to request a detailed written quote before committing, and you can comparison shop between funeral directors — there is no legal requirement to use a particular provider.

Arranging a Cremation Without a Funeral Director

Tasmania permits families to arrange cremation independently, without engaging a commercial funeral director. If you choose this route, you take on the responsibilities the funeral director would normally handle:

1. Obtain the MCCD from the attending medical practitioner within 48 hours
2. Arrange for the independent medical referee to examine the body and issue the cremation permit
3. Ensure pacemaker/device removal is completed before cremation
4. Transport the body to the crematorium, meeting the vehicle requirements (physical separation between driver and remains, or the body secured in a fluid-proof container)
5. Submit the disposal statement to BDM Tasmania within 7 days of the cremation
6. Apply for the Death Certificate through BDM after the disposal is registered

This approach requires significant coordination and familiarity with the regulatory requirements. Most families who choose a low-cost cremation opt for a direct cremation through a budget funeral provider rather than managing the entire process independently.

When the Coroner Is Involved

If the death is reported to the Coroner — because it was sudden, unexpected, unnatural, or occurred during a medical procedure — the standard cremation timeline is suspended. The body is transferred to the forensic mortuary in Hobart (all Tasmanian autopsies are conducted in Hobart, regardless of where the death occurred), and the Coroner assumes complete jurisdiction.

The body is typically held for two to four days, though complex cases can take significantly longer. No cremation arrangements can be finalised until the Coroner releases the body and issues a certificate authorising disposal.

Families in Northern Tasmania or the Northwest Coast should anticipate additional delays due to the geographic centralisation of coronial services in Hobart. Transport of the body between regional mortuaries and the Hobart facility adds time that families often don't expect.

The Tasmania Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide includes the complete cremation permit process, medical referee requirements, and a cremation cost comparison framework for Tasmanian providers.

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