Tobin Brothers Funerals Welcomes Funeral Industry Transparency Bill
With the introduction of the Residential Tenancies and Funerals Amendment Bill 2024, which mandates that funeral homes in Victoria publicly list their prices, we are proud to say that Tobin Brothers have been ahead of the curve for over 15 years.
At Tobin Brothers Funerals, transparency has always been at the core of how we serve families in their most vulnerable time of need. With the introduction of the Residential Tenancies and Funerals Amendment Bill 2024, which mandates that funeral homes in Victoria publicly list their prices, we are proud to say that we have been ahead of the curve for over 15 years. Our commitment to openness and clarity is unwavering, and we welcome the Victorian government’s efforts to ensure transparency across the funeral industry.
Our Commitment to Transparency
For years, Tobin Brothers has demonstrated leadership in the Australian funeral industry through transparency.
Long before it became a legislative requirement, we have displayed all our prices online for anyone to access. We believe that transparency is not just important, it is essential. When families are grieving, the last thing they should face is uncertainty around costs.
To make it even easier, we’ve developed our Memory Maker App, a tool that allows families to design their own funeral arrangements from the comfort of their homes. Every aspect of the service, from the type of coffin to the flowers, is displayed with clear pricing. Our aim has always been to provide a stress-free experience where families can make informed decisions about how to honour their loved ones.
Tobin Brothers: Leading the Industry in Victoria and Beyond
As this new bill garners bipartisan support, we take pride in knowing that Tobin Brothers has been the standard-bearer for transparency and fairness in pricing. We’ve always believed that families should be able to access information as easily as possible, just as they would for any other significant purchase in life. Whether through our website or in person, we have always made our pricing and options clear, ensuring there are no surprises when it comes to honouring a loved one’s memory.
MP Kathleen Matthews Ward, who spoke passionately about the importance of transparency, recounted her personal experience with Tobin Brothers when we cared for her father’s funeral. We are honoured by her kind words and proud of the trust families place in us. As she mentioned, the transparency and care we provide should be a standard across the industry.
"This week in parliament we made important changes to funeral legislation, making it compulsory for funeral services to provide their prices upfront and making the toughest of times just that little bit easier. I also took the time to thank Joanne and the team at Tobin Brothers in Glenroy for looking after us so well. Thank you to them and other funeral directors who are already doing the right thing and transparently displaying their prices upfront."
"I was very grateful that Tobin Brothers provided all of their prices for coffins and caskets upfront on their website. And I must say they have some awesome alternatives. You can choose environmentally friendly coffins, coffins with photos or designs vinyl wrapped on them, literally a cardboard box which for the record I'm quite happy with especially as its biodegradable...and of course you can also choose a top of the range majestic gold (casket)... Armed with this information you can go home in the privacy of your own space, browse through slowly and privately, and make choices without having to ask awkward and what may feel inappropriate but are important questions in the middle of a family meeting setting."
Welcoming This New Bill
We wholeheartedly support the Residential Tenancies and Funerals Amendment Bill 2024 and see it as a necessary step forward for the funeral industry in Victoria. Many states in Australia, including New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia, already have similar legislation, and it’s about time Victoria joined them. This move not only protects grieving families from “bill shock” but also holds funeral providers to a higher standard of professionalism and transparency.
Our commitment to serving families with care, respect, and honesty remains unchanged. With or without this new law, Tobin Brothers Funerals will continue to lead the way in providing transparent, compassionate, and personalised services. We are proud of our longstanding role in the community and will continue to be here for families when they need us most.
We encourage you to watch MP Kathleen Matthews Ward’s heartfelt address to Parliament, where she reflects on her experience with Tobin Brothers and our commitment to transparency. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/WdCRZzTxmTLJ5pQF/
"This bill will make sure that all funeral providers will have to provide those costs upfront just like Tobin Brothers already do, helping people making appropriate choices respectfully and with dignity"
For more information on our services or to explore our Memory Maker App, please visit our website www.tobinbrothers.com.au or contact us directly on 13 19 34.
James MacLeod OAM
Managing Director, Tobin Brothers Funerals
