Senate debates

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Motions

World Parkinson's Day

3:49 pm

Photo of Anne UrquhartAnne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 303, standing in the names of Senators Brown and Williams, as follows: paragraph (a)(i) omit 'is', substitute 'was'.

Leave granted.

At the request of Senators Brown and Williams, I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)   notes that:

  (i)   11 April 2017 was World Parkinson’s Day,

  (ii)   2017 marks 200 years since the disease was recognised by Dr James Parkinson in his publication, An Essay on the Shaking Palsy,

  (iii)   conservative estimates indicate there are well over 70,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Australia, making it the most common major movement disorder,

  (iv)   an estimated 700,000 people are directly impacted because they either have Parkinson’s, provide care to someone or have a family member or close friend with Parkinson’s, and

  (v)   in 2014, the total cost to the Australian economy from Parkinson’s was $9.9 billion; and

  (b)   acknowledges that:

  (i)   World Parkinson’s Day brings the community together as part of a global campaign,

  (ii)   Australians with Parkinson’s should have access to specialist care, medications and therapies,

  (iii)   investment in research is critical to finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for Parkinson’s disease,

  (iv)   a skilled workforce is vital to ensuring a timely diagnosis and better care and support for people living with Parkinson’s,

  (v)   there is a significant financial burden faced by people with the disease and their families, and

  (vi)   the economic burden of Parkinson’s is set to rise, as the number of people with Parkinson’s is set to increase by 4% per year.

Question agreed to.