John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On 14 November last week it was World Diabetes Day. It is a particularly important issue for those supporting Movember, which I obviously am. As such, I visited one of the many global pharmaceutical companies in Bennelong, Eli Lilly, who provide an effective medicine for type 1 diabetes. Eli Lilly hosted an informative event including an address by Mirella Donaldson, community program manager for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, about the support program they provide. I thank Chris Miskel, all the way from Indianapolis, who is the managing director of Eli Lilly, for the opportunity to speak to a large audience and to help raise awareness on these important issues. Chris's family has two members who suffer from diabetes.

As the chair of the new Parliamentary Friends of Medicines Group, I invite all my parliamentary colleagues to join me for Medicines Australia end-of-year drinks at 6 pm tomorrow night in the theatre foyer, which also will serve as the launch for this new group. Chris Miskel and representatives from many other Bennelong pharmaceutical companies will be there to discuss the great work they do in alleviating the impacts of diabetes and many other illnesses that do so much damage to our communities, on both a personal and a family basis, and the major impact that preventative illness has on our productivity as a nation.

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