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

I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that today, 4 million Australians, or almost 20 per cent of the population, are living with allergy and allergic diseases;

(b) recognises that over the last 20 years, hospital admissions due to anaphylaxis have increased five-fold, 10 per cent of infants now have food allergies, drug allergy-induced anaphylaxis deaths have increased by 300 per cent, and drug allergy-induced anaphylaxis presentations have trebled;

(c) is deeply concerned by the recent death of a young child in Western Australia, and several near misses across the country, as a result of food allergies;

(d) recognises the work of Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA), as well as other partner organisations, in developing the National Allergy Strategy for Australia, published three years ago in August 2015;

(e) recognises that the National Allergy Strategy is the single, national resource for the community, medical profession and policy makers in providing strategic goals to reduce the incidence of allergy-related deaths and harm in Australia; and

(f) calls on the Federal Government to ensure significant ongoing, long-term funding for the National Allergy Strategy.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government today announced an investment of $2.17 million in projects to improve the lives of Australians who live with allergies. The funding will be used to back a range of projects identified as part of the National Allergy Strategy, which was developed by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy and Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia. Further funding is subject to further discussions about the National Allergy Strategy, noting that the government receives proposals and initiatives from a wide array of different chronic disease organisations.

Question agreed to.