Melbourne cemetery denies carbon tax fee

A Melbourne cemetery operator has denied imposing price rises linked to the carbon tax.

News Ltd has reported that Springvale Cemetery, in Melbourne's outer southeast, told a family the price of their father's burial plot had risen by $55 because of the tax.

But the cemetery's chief executive says if it did happen, it was a "figment of somebody's imagination".

"I can never absolutely say it was not said, but what I can tell you is it has never been discussed by me, the management committee, or the sales staff and therefore, if it was said, it's a complete figment of somebody's imagination," Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust chief executive John Tribe told Fairfax Radio.

Mr Tribe said the cemetery's fees were set by the government and while cremation costs may rise because of the carbon tax, the cemetery would have to make a submission to government before lifting its fees.

"I wouldn't think that is going to happen for six to nine months at least."

The Maliki family of Melbourne said a receptionist at the cemetery told them the cost of their father's burial had risen by $55 because of the carbon tax, News Ltd reported on Monday.

Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said cemeteries or crematoriums were not liable under the carbon price mechanism.

"It would be reprehensible to take advantage of grieving relatives by making misleading claims about funeral expenses," he said in a statement on Monday.

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