Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the outset of my remarks, I express my condolences in relation to the tragic events that have occurred in recent hours in Manchester, and offer on behalf of all members here our thoughts and prayers to those affected by those events. This week is Palliative Care Week, and it is an opportunity to reinforce the value of palliative care services throughout our community. The focus of Palliative Care Week this week is on residential and community aged care, with a very special focus on discussions between family members and friends about care decisions, particularly at the end of life. Palliative Care Australia has produced this book, Dying to talk: discussion starter, for people in those circumstances. It is an opportunity to think about, talk about and discuss with loved ones what responses they want in relation to decisions that might be made about their care, and, particularly, their care in the dying and terminal stages at the end of life. This is a valuable resource. I commend it to anybody who happens to be listening to this broadcast this afternoon or, at some stage, reading Hansard. It is an important subject. It deserves much more attention, and there is an opportunity for family and friends to discuss important matters at the end of life.