Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Hayes:

That this House:

(1)

notes that:

(a)

Sunday 20 February to Sunday 27 February 2011 is Donate Life Week, Australia’s national awareness week to promote organ and tissue donation; and

(b)

organ donation is giving the gift of life, yet is a gift that most people do not know how to give;

(2)

acknowledges that:

(a)

one third of Australians do not know that family consent is needed for organs to be donated when someone dies;

(b)

there are more than 1000 people on organ donation waiting lists and were only 279 donations in 2009-10, despite that year being our highest annual donation rate in a decade; and

(c)

on average, every deceased organ donor in Australia may contribute to between three and ten transplants;

(3)

encourages all Australian men and women to:

(a)

set some time aside during the week to talk about organ and tissue donations with people closest to them; and

(b)

consider organ donations and sign up for the Australian Organ Donor Register; and

(4)

pays tribute to organ donors who have kindly given the gift of life.

See this item in context