Helen Kroger (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Boyce, I move:

That the Senate acknowledges that:

(a) the week beginning 21 June 2014 is Motor Neurone Disease Global Week of Action when the International Association of ALS/MND highlights research and action seeking a world free from Motor Neurone Disease (MND);

(b) MND Week began with the winter solstice on Saturday, 21 June, a turning point when the global MND community comes together to express their hope that there will be a turning point in the search for the causes, effective treatments and ultimately a cure;

(c) MND is a rapidly progressive, terminal neurological disease for which there is no known cure and no effective treatment and that two Australians are diagnosed with the disease every day;

(d) the average life expectancy from diagnosis is 27 months;

(e) about 1 900 Australians have MND and thousands more families and carers live daily with the effects of MND;

(f) the International Association of ALS/MND seeks support for the five rights of people with MND:

(i) the right to an early diagnosis and information,

(ii) the right to access quality care and treatment,

(iii) the right to be treated as individuals with dignity and respect,

(iv) the right to maximise their quality of life, and

(v) that their carers have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well supported; and

(g) today Members of Parliament and others wear cornflowers as a symbol of the courage of those with MND and their carers.

Question agreed to.