Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Australians, Territorians, I want to talk about organ donation. I want to acknowledge people like Megan and all the Donate Life Northern Territory staff and vollies, like my friend Carly Dalton, the widow of Robbie Dalton—a champion bloke who got an extra 10 years due to a donated kidney. I also want to give a shout-out to my brother-in-law Guy Vanderkelen, who is organ donation coordinator down at Royal Hobart Hospital: thanks for what you do, mate. Organ donation is a conversation that we must have with our loved ones now. Otherwise, unfortunately, these conversations first occur at what is the worst possible time for a family. In the middle of overwhelming grief, families are asked if they want to donate the organs of loved ones to save the lives of others.

Most of us say that we support organ donation and many, like me, even register. But registration is only a part of the story. At the most critical moment, families are still asked to confirm a loved one's wishes, so it's only families that can really make organ donation possible. I've had that conversation with my family and I encourage everyone to do the same. If we can improve registration, it will make a huge difference for the more than 2,000 Aussies that are waiting for a life-saving organ donation.

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