John Alexander (Bennelong, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I've said many times, Bennelong is Australia's capital of innovation. We are home to some of the most innovative companies and organisations in the country. From wi-fi to the Granny Smith apple, we are Sydney's home of invention. Many of our most innovative groups are pharmaceutical companies working up on 'Pill Hill'. Last night they came to us here on Capital Hill for the inaugural Medicines Australia PharmAus showcase, held in the Great Hall, where there were cocktails. It was a fantastic event. Twenty companies were on show, describing all aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. Stalls focused on R&D in collaboration with academia, vaccines, advanced manufacturing, patient outcomes and fighting disease.

These are just some of the ways that this key industry helps people across our communities. All party leaders and health ministers from across the isle were in attendance, but I was particularly pleased to see so many members and senators in the room. This industry saves lives on a daily basis, and it was great to see so many parliamentarians engaging with it. I'd like to congratulate all the companies that took part, particularly our wonderful local Bennelongians, and I'd like to thank Medicines Australia for their leadership of the event, especially Wes Cook, Milton Catelin, James Boyce and Aliide Murphy. Thank you, MA and the pharmaceutical industry, for showing us just how much you make our world a safer and better place.