Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) there are an estimated 100 living survivors from the thalidomide disaster in Australia who are experiencing rapid deterioration of their health and quality of life,

  (ii) the Community Affairs References Committee conducted an inquiry into the support for Australia's thalidomide survivors and a report, presented on 22 March 2019, found the current supports available to thalidomide survivors are inadequate – the committee made 11 recommendations, including that the Government should issue a formal apology, as well as provide compensation to enable survivors to live with their disability, and the findings received unanimous support from the committee,

  (iii) the Federal Government has not yet responded to the report, and has not indicated a clear timeline for its response to survivors, and

  (iv) survivors have clearly articulated the need for urgency in enacting all recommendations of the report, especially those which call for the provision of compensation to all survivors; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) urgently respond to the committee report and provide a clear timeline for that response to survivors, and

  (ii) enact all recommendations of the committee report without delay.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) 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.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As outlined previously, the Morrison government recognises the plight of victims of thalidomide. The Morrison government is the first government in Australian history to offer both a national apology and a memorial and is actively considering compensation to victims. In that context, the government is working on finalising its response as matter of priority. The government is working assiduously on this.

Question agreed to.