Richard Di Natale (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 917 standing in my name for today relating to foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) is the leading preventable cause of non-genetic, developmental disorder in Australia,

(ii) while the prevalence of FASD is unknown, conservative prevalence estimates for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), one of the conditions within the spectrum, indicates in the order of 200 children are born with FAS each year, and

(iii) there are currently limited opportunities for people to be accurately diagnosed with FASD, and there are a lack of appropriate early intervention options and support for people with FASD, their families and carers;

(b) notes the Expert Day of FASD Briefings being held today at Parliament House and the Australian FASD Action Plan released today by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education; and

(c) supports the Government’s current commitments to research and projects relating to FASD and calls on the Government to adopt a comprehensive plan to ensure that children do not continue to be born with the condition.

Question agreed to.