Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I don't think anyone in this place underestimates the impact of diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes. There are over 1.3 million Australians registered on the National Diabetes Services Scheme, 280 new people diagnosed each day and 500,000 Australians with type 2 diabetes who remain undiagnosed. We also acknowledge the very serious risks associated with the disease if (a) it isn't diagnosed correctly or (b) it's not managed, monitored and medicated correctly.

I want to make the observation that the co-chairs of the 'parliamentary enemies of diabetes' network—my good friend and colleague Rowan Ramsey, from South Australia, and Mr Perrett, from Queensland—are doing fantastic work in this place. The group is continuously raising—not only with the parliament and the executive but also with the broader community—the importance of our campaign against this disease. Obviously, we have many friendship groups in this parliament, but I think this is one of the few that takes the title 'enemy group'. That in itself speaks to this issue.

Why is it important? It's obviously important on an individual level because the impact of this disease on individual lifestyles can be pronounced, particularly, as I said, if it goes undiagnosed for any period of time or, equally, if it's not properly treated. There is also a macroeconomic concern. The cost to the federal and state health budgets for people who haven't been correctly diagnosed or haven't been correctly medicated or treated is, to be honest, phenomenal. In a previous life before coming to this place, I worked as a solicitor for insurers, in terms of complex litigation. There were often personal injury catastrophe claims. I'd often go to dinner parties and people would ask, 'Why did that person receive an award of damages that ran into the tens of millions of dollars?' People would often think that was a gratuitous payment on account of the pain and suffering—things that someone might have suffered. I'd have to slowly step dinner party guests through it. The payment that was so large was effectively a payment for future care—that is, the costs associated with the necessary future care for someone who, for example, had both of their legs amputated or had lost their sight. In the context of diabetes, if the disease isn't properly diagnosed or diagnosed early enough or, indeed, isn't treated correctly, then ultimately the Commonwealth, or at least the Crown, if I can call it that, becomes the insurer and is required to meets the costs associated with that future care.

So, on the one hand, it's very important that we raise awareness and we continue to fund various programs, including the National Diabetes Strategy and, obviously, the review that is being undertaken. It's very important we do that work on a personal level because of the impact that this disease can have on individual livelihoods and the quality of someone's life when they are suffering from the disease. It is equally important, in terms of the public good, that we ensure these people receive proper diagnosis and treatment so their livelihood can be improved, and that we also ameliorate the future care costs if there's a failure.

In the time I have left, I concur with the comments made in this place about the FreeStyle Libre continuous monitoring device. It is an amazing invention. I have a constituent named Tyson Smith of Rendelsham. He is six foot tall, built like the proverbial and you would think nothing would stop the bloke, but, I can tell you, he got to the point where the continual monitoring of his glucose was a drain on him and his life. He's a typical knockabout farmer. How this device has changed his life and lifestyle is remarkable. On his behalf, I continue to advocate in this place and with the minister for an expansion of this program to other Australians.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12 : 18 to 12 : 30

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