Teresa Gambaro (Brisbane, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Settlement) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to speak to the motion of the member for Canberra, which draws attention of the House to the rates, successes, challenges and other issues regarding the number of organ donations in Australia. I am sure that members of this place, like me, have supported many worthwhile causes in their collective times as MPs. As a busy local member I see the tireless efforts of so many who work to improve the lives of Australians. My shadow portfolio responsibilities also bring me in contact with those who support countless millions of those in need overseas.

There is perhaps no greater cause—indeed, no higher and more selfless act to improve the lives of fellow Australians—than to become an organ donor. We are an innovative country, with medical services and knowledge second to none. Australians are well educated. Our standard of living is high. We value the traditions of mateship, kindness, compassion and a fair go. So how can it be that in a country as great as ours we only had 247 organ donors in 2009, while over 5.7 million Australians are registered to donate?

The member for Canberra earlier spoke about the organ donation rates in Spain and the great success in the United States. I have been a registered organ donor for several years as have been my family members. I have discussed my wishes with my family members and my husband, and we have come together with an agreed decision. This is perhaps the most important and critical factor for organ donation to go ahead, and it is where we must focus all of our efforts.

As mentioned in the motion, more than 98 per cent of Australians agree that organ and tissue donation have the potential to save and improve lives, yet less than 60 per cent of Australians accept this invitation from their loved ones and become organ donors when asked. So despite the $150 million investment figure announced by Prime Minister Rudd in July 2008, we need to go some way. Despite the great efforts and work of the Gift of Life Australia, Kidney Health Australia, Transplant Australia, the Organ Donation and Transplant Foundation of Western Australia and the David Hookes Foundation in the lives of many Australians, and the work of many clinicians in improving organ donor rates, we still have some way to go. Those issues stem from communication problems with hospitals and very sensitive aspects that come up, particularly at that critical point.

I was really pleased and honoured in 2007 to be asked to be an organ donor ambassador for AMA Queensland, and I did a considerable amount of work in improving the profile of organ donation in our community. A particular area that I want to focus on today touches the lives of many in my suburbs, and that is chronic kidney disease. One in nine Australians over 25 years of age has one clinical sign of existing chronic kidney disease, such as reduced kidney function, or evidence of kidney damage. A total of 10,341 people were receiving dialysis treatment at the end of 2009. Unfortunately, in 2008, only six per cent of people on dialysis received a transplant—an increase of five per cent on 2007 and six per cent on 2006. Sadly, the average waiting time for a transplant is about four years, and waits of up to seven years are not uncommon.

These are remarkable figures, particularly when you look at the survival rate. Ninety-eight per cent of recipients are alive at one year and 88 per cent are alive at five years. They bear great testament to the remarkable achievement of our medical institutes and treating specialists across Brisbane and Australia. We have incredible success rates in Australia. Giving life after death is always going to be a very sensitive and emotional process for the donor’s family, their friends and medical professions. Education and coordination are keys to success, and it is very important that families get behind these incredible donation efforts.

The other day as I was preparing to speak, I saw a quote that perfectly crystallised how modern Brisbane and indeed modern Australia should approach organ donation. Social commentator Maya Angelou said:

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with catcher’s mitts on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

Australians need to throw something back, with the knowledge that their precious gift will be so valued.

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