Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table two nonconforming petitions, as agreed at the whips meeting last night, and to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the government for the ability to make a short statement. These two petitions call on Australia to officially recognise Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day each year on 15 October. Collectively, they have been signed by just over 17,000 people. It is estimated that one in four pregnancies in Australia result in a miscarriage. That's 103,000 miscarriages every year. In 2018, 2,419 lives were lost to stillbirth or newborn death.

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is a day for parents, families and friends to memorialise the babies they have lost through miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death. This day is an opportunity to raise awareness of this difficult reality and start the conversation about miscarriage and infant loss. It's also an opportunity for people around the world to officially acknowledge the losses experienced by parents and families and to express sympathy to all families who've been through this tragedy. I thank John and Kate De'Laney from Pregnancy and Infant Loss Australia, Nicole Ballinger and everyone who signed these petitions, and look forward to the day when Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is acknowledged in Australia.