New laws targeting killers and people who help them hide or defile bodies have been passed by the South Australian parliament.
Until now there have been no specific offences in SA against concealing or interfering with human remains.
The new laws mean offenders can be punished for concealing or destroying a body, action which can significantly impact the criminal investigation process by eliminating valuable forensic evidence.
People who conceal, mutilate, destroy or interfere with a body face up to 15 years in jail on top of any sentence for causing the death.
Anyone charged with defiling human remains also faces up to 15 years behind bars while those who fail to report the finding of human remains can be jailed for up to five years.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said concealing or interfering with a body had the potential to exacerbate the trauma experienced by a victim's family and friends.
"South Australians who have lost loved ones have been calling for action to fill this gap in the statute book," he said.
"These new laws will go some way to acknowledging their tireless campaign, and ensuring that offenders are held to account."
