Gavin Pearce (Braddon, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Aged Care and Indigenous Health Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Over this term of parliament, I've had the privilege of meeting many passionate professionals and volunteers dedicated to improving the health outcomes for all Australians are. They wake up each day with one goal—that is, to make a difference to the lives of others. Tonight, I want to highlight two.

Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, occurs when bacteria, fungus, viruses and parasites become resistant to the drug's designed to kill them. This growing resistance is making infections harder to treat and poses one of the greatest threats to global public health. In Australia, AMR is linked to more than 5,000 annual deaths, a statistic that cannot be ignored. AMR threatens the very foundation of our health system, and without effective treatments, critical procedures such as surgeries, cancer chemotherapy and childbirth can become increasingly unsafe.

This week marks World AMR Awareness Week, driven by the AMR network, a multistakeholder group dedicated to combating this issue. The network highlights a concerning reality that Australians lack access to many of the newest antibiotics already available in countries like the US and the UK. This gap puts patient safety at risk.

The Australian government has acknowledged the severity of AMR, and I welcome the policy reforms being progressed, particularly through the health technology assessment review. However, acknowledgement isn't enough. What we need is action. We need these reforms to be implemented in order to improve access to new and effective antibiotics, to bolster research into future treatments. The time to act is now.

I also want to share the inspiring work of Camp Quality and is volunteers who transform the lives of children impacted by cancer across Tasmania. Every day in Australia, two families sadly hear the devastating words, 'Your child has cancer.' Their world is immediately turned upside down, as they watch a childhood stolen and moments of joy disappear. Camp quality works tirelessly in order to give these moments back to kids, creating opportunities for fun and happy memories that aren't centred on illness.

I want to acknowledge the Rotary Club of Devonport South East, which is supporting Camp Quality's Christmas party this weekend, providing lunch for those kids and their families. The club has secured Devonport's iconic Julie Burgess tall ship next year which will be transformed into a pirate ship. I'm sure the kids will have enduring memories of that experience.

Camp Quality is a magical experience. Throughout community support and organisations like Rotary, Camp Quality provides camps and fun days for over 120 Tasmanian families impacted by this disease. This year, their puppet show program will visit eight schools, reaching more than 1,000 children. Their program dispels myths about cancer. It teaches kids about cancer—that it isn't contagious—and it shows them how to be more supportive around friends.

I would like to recognise the extraordinary generosity of eight Tasmanians who, over the past three years, have left Camp Quality more than $1 million worth of gifts in wills. Their legacies will provide positivity, fun and laughter for families facing cancer. It is a testament to the power of community and passion. Camp Quality is changing the cancer journey for so many families, ensuring that no child in Tasmania faces cancer alone, and I encourage everyone to support the incredible work through donations or volunteering.

The Australian AMR network and Camp Quality remind us of the extraordinary power, dedication and community action happening across our nation. Whether tackling the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance or bringing joy to those kids that I talked about who are affected by cancer, these efforts are making a tangible difference to so many. I commend the AMR network, Camp Quality and the countless individuals and organisations committed to improving the health and lives of all Australians. Let's continue to support and celebrate these remarkable initiatives that embody the spirit of care, compassion and innovation.