Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Postnatal depression is a very serious illness. It affects many women in our community. Terry Tindall, the prime petitioner associated with the petition I have in my hand, lost his daughter, Gemma, to postnatal depression. Since the loss of his daughter, he has been involved in trying to get more resources for women that suffer from postnatal depression. He wants to set up a regime that promotes recognition of this serious illness and he wants to promote this to medical practitioners and organisations within the community. Terry believes that in the area that I live in, the Hunter, there needs to be some sort of facility where women suffering from postnatal depression can stay with their baby whilst they recover from this serious illness.

Madam Deputy Speaker, I would like to present this petition, and ask that the Standing Committee on Petitions examine it and put their mind to this very serious issue.

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