Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Innovation) Share this | Hansard source

Absolutely. Indeed, Senator Kate Lundy. These two women really made this an issue that we have considered. Sadly, there have not been adequate solutions. I note that Minister Hunt has made a number of comments around eating disorders. Last year, on 30 November, he made a landmark speech in which he indicated that there would be a significant advancement in the Medicare Benefits Schedule to provide an adequate form of MBS items to deal with the reality of eating disorders that affect so many in our community. I note that he promised to deliver that within a year. It's now past 30 November 2018. I called on the minister earlier this week and I once again call on him to honour that commitment he has made to the Australian public.

I'd also like, in the time remaining to me, to recognise life membership of Cheryl Cassell and Joe de Bruyn—firstly Cheryl Cassell, our SDA New South Wales branch president. Cheryl has recently retired from her job at Woolworths, in Nowra, after many years of working in the retail industry. She started working in the retail industry at Woolworths Riverwood in the 1960s and has served SDA members from the shop floor as a workplace delegate at Woolworths Nowra since 1987, over 31 years. She's been an SDA New South Wales branch counsellor for over 16 years, an SDA national counsellor and, more recently, the SDA New South Wales branch president. Cheryl has displayed the qualities of strength, dignity and perseverance that are so admirable in people who serve those around them. She's certainly known for her directness as well.

Also presented with life membership of the SDA union was Joe de Bruyn. The national council of the SDA met a little while ago in Brisbane. The national council meeting was particularly significant in the life of their union as it marked the retirement of Joe de Bruyn, the national president. He was departing from all his offices of the SDA after 44 years of faithful service to the members of the SDA. He was national secretary for 36 years and national president for the last four years. Joe originally came to Sydney for a week—and left 16 years later, including after spending 12 years as both the SDA's New South Wales branch secretary and the national secretary, from 1984 to 1996. Even in semiretirement he's one of the busiest people you will ever meet, yet he still has time to listen to others.

He's on the board of Rest Super and six of its subcommittees. He's a director on the board of another superannuation body linked to Rest and he's on the board of a not-for-profit centre. He's also the chairman of the board of trustees at a local university and, until a few weeks ago, was the national president of the SDA. His is a life of public service that deserves acknowledgement. Joe has always been fearless, standing up for his principles and for his members. He's an all-round generally outstanding person who continues to make a contribution to Australian public life.

I thank you very much for the opportunity to put those remarks on the record.

Senate adjourned at 20:54