Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is a condition that can cause inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Young Australians are facing a crisis in accessing services to diagnose not only ADHD but other behavioural problems, and, once they have their diagnosis, a crisis in getting the support they need. Young Australians also face a crisis in medical support. As we've discussed in this place over the last eight months, there are questions as to whether Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme adequately cover the costs of medication and questions as to the scope of NDIS coverage of ADHD et cetera.

Yesterday I was extremely disappointed and somewhat disheartened by Senator Hanson's comments about ADHD being—I quote Hansard'a convenient diagnosis excusing poor parenting'. That's an outrageous, uneducated statement for a senator in this place to make. When children are diagnosed they need more support. Their parents need support to ensure their child is getting an adequate education. I want to remind people, like Senator Hanson, who have this outdated and uneducated view that many innovative people—Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Richard Branson and Vincent van Gogh, just to name a few—live with ADHD and describe their condition as their superpower. There's no tangible evidence between ADHD diagnosis and a life of failure or lack of success. When speaking of people living with ADHD—and, I have to say, there are adults, people over the age of 18, seeking diagnosis—we should not use uneducated terminology in this chamber.