New South Wales lawmakers have passed a bill to create a regulatory path for terramation, giving residents another possible way to handle remains while leaving detailed operating rules to future regulations.
Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich introduced the Public Health Amendment (Terramation) Bill 2026. It passed the Legislative Assembly on Oct. 15 and the Legislative Council on Oct. 21; the Parliament tracker still listed it as awaiting assent on Oct. 22.
The bill defines terramation as the controlled aerobic biological conversion of bodily remains into humus or humus-like products. It also covers bones being crushed, ground or otherwise mechanically reduced separately, then mixed back into the resulting material. Regulations may set requirements for facilities, equipment, inspections, registration and when or how the process may be carried out.
The bill says the terramation division of the Public Health Regulation 2022 cannot take effect before the date two years after the Act receives assent. Other related amendments include provisions that commence by proclamation. The tracker showed assent as the next formal step and listed no date for it.
An operator who knows terramation would violate a person’s written direction may not proceed; the maximum penalty for a breach is 10 penalty units. Each receptacle is limited to one body at a time unless the Secretary approves an exception. After treatment, the material may go to the applicant, another person, a cemetery or adjoining land reserved for that purpose.
During the Legislative Council debate, The Hon. John Ruddick said he expected to request terramation in his will. The Hon. Cameron Murphy said he looked forward to using the service in the distant future. Their comments expressed personal interest; the bill separately addresses written directions left by a person.
In the Oct. 15 debate, the government said future regulations should account for public health, environmental and amenity issues. It also said more consultation was needed on permitted uses and restrictions for the resulting material.
