Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I met with the senior advocate from the Council for Intellectual Disability, Jim Simpson, and the delightful Ms Laura Naing. Laura is a 27-year-old woman who lives with intellectual disability, and she told me in no uncertain terms that people with intellectual disability deserve better health care. We know that they have poorer life expectancy. We know that they have trouble getting treatment in primary care. We know that their outcomes in hospital treatment are worse than other Australians. It's time for change.

The Albanese Labor government has funded the Centre for Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health at the University of New South Wales, but more needs to be done within the health profession. We need to make sure our doctors and nurses are trained to care for people with intellectual disability. It takes a little bit more time and a little bit more effort to look after people with intellectual disability, but they deserve better care. I'm committed to trying to make sure that we continue to improve outcomes for people with intellectual disability in the health system.

Laura was a wonderful advocate, and I cannot sing her praises highly enough. She delivered her message very clearly, and I thank her for that.