Angelos Angelopoulos has lost his legal battle against the Queensland Government over claims of religious discrimination after the state refused to fund a Greek Orthodox funeral for his late father, Anastasios.
Angelopoulos argued he was denied “natural justice” when the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) dismissed his original complaint in 2022.
According to News.com.au, his latest appeal to the Queensland Court of Appeal was also rejected this week.
Anastasios died in June 2018, and his son sought assistance under the Burials Assistance Act (BAA), which covers only basic burial costs.
Angelopoulos claimed this excluded necessary elements of a Greek Orthodox funeral, such as a church service and private viewing, in breach of his and his father’s religious beliefs.
The Greek community and Orthodox Church eventually funded a church service, but Anastasios was not buried until 20 weeks later.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal found no sufficient legal grounds for the appeal. It noted that QCAT acted reasonably and within the BAA’s limitations.
“Queensland is a multicultural state… the cost to the state would be very significant,” the Department of Justice and Attorney-General stated, defending the policy’s uniformity.
The court also rejected claims that the Human Rights Act had been overlooked, stating the case did not raise a “substantial injustice” or “arguable error of law.”
Source: News.com.au.
