Most Australians Don't Know They Can Ask for an Itemised Funeral Price List — Before They Sign Anything

When a loved one dies, most Australians do what feels natural: they call the nearest funeral director, accept the first quote they receive, and focus on getting through the days ahead. Very few know that they are entitled to pause, ask for a full itemised price list, compare options across multiple providers, and make a considered decision — all before signing a single document.

A report published last month by the Western Australian Government's Consumer Protection Division has provided the most recent measure of that knowledge gap: in a survey of WA consumers, 83 per cent were unaware of their rights when arranging a funeral. The report, which reviewed the operation of WA's Funeral Pricing Code of Practice, also found that half of all families who had arranged a funeral in the past three years had difficulty obtaining price information without having to call a funeral director first.

The WA finding is consistent with a national pattern that government inquiries have documented repeatedly. New South Wales introduced funeral pricing transparency laws in February 2020, strengthening them further in 2024 to require itemised written quotes before any agreement is signed. Queensland followed with mandatory itemised price display requirements in July 2022. WA's Code came into force in May 2023 and was made permanent in March 2026. Victoria's Funerals Regulations 2025 require all funeral providers to display their goods and services price list and coffin prices on their website and at business premises, with requirements in force since 1 August 2025 and extended obligations commencing 26 May 2026. Across every jurisdiction that has examined the question, the regulatory direction has been identical: consumers have a right to itemised pricing before they commit to anything. And in every jurisdiction, the evidence suggests most of them still don't know it.

The Right Most Families Don't Know They Have

Across New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, funeral directors are now legally required to publish prices for all goods and services online, display the cost of their least expensive funeral option prominently, and provide a full itemised quote to any family that requests one — before any agreement is signed. These are not proposals or recommendations. They are law — and in every major state, they are already in force.

An itemised quote breaks down every component of a funeral separately: the professional service fee, transportation, the coffin or casket, cremation or burial costs, death certificates, celebrant fees, flowers, and any third-party disbursements. It allows a family to understand exactly what they are paying for — and to identify any items they may not need or want.

Critically, a family is not required to make a decision on the spot. A funeral director can care for a loved one while a family takes the time to compare options. That breathing room exists. Most people simply don't know to use it.

"The right to ask for itemised pricing is one of the most important consumer protections most Australians have never heard of," said Peter Erceg, Founder of eziFunerals. "Understanding that one entitlement — and exercising it — changes the entire dynamic of arranging a funeral. You move from a position of uncertainty to a position of informed choice."

Why the Knowledge Gap Exists

Arranging a funeral is unlike almost any other consumer experience. It typically happens with little warning. Decisions worth thousands of dollars are made within hours of a death, often by people who have never done it before and are managing profound grief at the same time. It is not a situation in which most people think to pause and ask for competing quotes.

That context is not unique to Australia. But what is distinctive here is the scale of the information gap. Research by eziFunerals shows the cost of an equivalent funeral can vary by thousands of dollars between providers in the same suburb. A basic direct cremation might cost $2,500 with one provider and $4,500 with another. A full funeral service with cremation can range from $4,000 to more than $10,000 depending on who you call first.

Families who compare prices don't necessarily choose the cheapest option. They choose the option that is right for them — with full knowledge of what they are getting and what it costs. That is what informed consent looks like. And it is available to every Australian family, at no cost, right now.

A Platform Built Around the Right to Know

eziFunerals was founded with a single purpose: to give Australian families access to transparent, comparable funeral pricing before any of today's regulatory requirements existed. It launched publicly in 2017 and has since become Australia's only truly independent national online funeral planning and price comparison service.

The platform allows families to compare prices from independent funeral directors across Australia without making a phone call, without committing to any provider, and without any obligation. Families can request itemised quotes from multiple providers simultaneously, review their options at home, and make a decision when they are ready. Visit ezifunerals.com.au to get started.

The platform is independent. Its recommendations are not influenced by any commercial relationship with any funeral director. The only interest it serves is the family's.

The Independent Sector and Why It Matters

Approximately 70 per cent of Australia's funeral businesses are independent — locally owned and operated, often across multiple generations, with deep roots in the communities they serve. These businesses represent the vast majority of funeral providers in the country.

For families seeking a personal, community-connected alternative to large corporate operators, independent funeral directors are often the right choice. The challenge is finding them, comparing them, and understanding their pricing without the marketing infrastructure that larger operators can bring to bear.

eziFunerals was built for exactly that purpose. By providing independent operators with a platform that makes their pricing visible and their services comparable, it connects families who want a personal service with the providers best placed to deliver one.

"The independent sector in this country does extraordinary work," said Peter Erceg. "These are small businesses led by people who genuinely care about the families they serve. They deserve to be found. And families deserve to know they exist as an option — with pricing that's clear, upfront, and easy to compare."

Five Things Every Australian Family Should Know

• You are entitled to ask any funeral director for a full itemised price list before signing any agreement. In New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria this is now a legal requirement. Any reputable funeral director anywhere in Australia will provide one on request.

• You do not have to make an immediate decision. A funeral director can care for your loved one while you take time to compare options. That time is available to you.

• Funeral costs vary significantly — often by thousands of dollars — between providers in the same area. Comparing prices does not mean compromising on quality or care. It means making an informed choice.

• eziFunerals (ezifunerals.com.au) allows you to compare prices from independent funeral directors across Australia and request itemised quotes from multiple providers — all without making a phone call or committing to any provider.

• Pre-planning a funeral is one of the most practical things any Australian can do for their family. It removes the urgency from the decision, locks in current pricing, and ensures your wishes are clearly recorded. eziFunerals provides free funeral planning tools to help.

About eziFunerals

eziFunerals (ABN 42 149 972 734) is Australia's leading independent national online funeral planning and price comparison platform. Founded in 2011 and launched publicly in 2017, the platform connects Australian families with independent funeral directors across the country and offers a range of planning tools including prepaid funeral options and estate planning resources.