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Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Page: 2472

Senator BOYCE (Queensland) (15:43): I, and also on behalf of Senators Carol Brown, Siewert and Fifield, move:

That the Senate—

   (a)   notes that 21 March 2012, marks the 7th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and the first time that day has been acknowledged under the auspices of the United Nations (UN);

   (b)   congratulates Down Syndrome International, Down Syndrome associations in Australia and the hundreds of thousands of people who campaigned for World Down Syndrome Day to be officially recognised by the UN;

   (c)   notes that the UN resolution to recognise World Down Syndrome Day was proposed by Brazil and co-sponsored by 78 UN member states, including Australia;

   (d)   recognises that Down Syndrome is the most prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability and that the characteristics of Down Syndrome have been known for centuries;

   (e)   acknowledges:

      (i)   that barriers faced by people with Down Syndrome can be overcome through the shared vision for an inclusive Australia society that enables people with disability to fulfil their potential as equal citizens, and

      (ii)   the multi-partisan support for a national disability insurance scheme and encourages the Australian Government to continue to push forward with the implementation of such a scheme to give Australians with Down Syndrome and other disabilities the opportunity to live fulfilling lives; and

   (f)   supports the celebration of UN World Down Syndrome Day by people with Down Syndrome, their families, friends and carers, and the wider community.

Question agreed to.