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Monday, 4 July 2011
Page: 7550

Organ Donation

Debate resumed on motion by Ms Brodtman:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) Australia had a record year in 2010 with 309 multiple organ donors;

(b) activity in 2011 shows that Australia is on track to steadily sustain this improvement with 112 donors already this year;

(c) following the injection of $151 million by the Government to establish a coordinated approach to organ donation, 242 staff have now been appointed in 77 hospitals and DonateLife agencies across Australia, thus enabling all jurisdictions to work cooperatively to support sustained improvements in organ donation;

(d) there were 931 transplants in 2010 and already there have been 327 transplants in 2011; and

(e) States and Territories are committed to supporting this reform agenda; and

(2) acknowledges:

(a) the selfless act of all donor families who have supported new life for transplant recipients;

(b) the introduction of a national protocol for donation after cardiac death that will ensure Australia maximises the number of organ donors;

(c) that many hospitals that have not previously donated organs and tissue are now undertaking this important role as a result of the extra funding and staffing that are available;

(d) that the States and Territories reaffirmed their commitment to the reform agenda in February 2011, in particular the financing of increases in tissue typing, retrieval of organs and transplant surgery;

(e) the success of the two advertising campaigns launched in May 2010 and February 2011; and

(f) the importance of continued input of community groups and non government organisations in raising awareness among the Australian community