Kristina Keneally (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senators McCarthy, Rice, Molan, Gichuhi and Bilyk, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) today marks International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day,

  (ii) on this day, parents, families and friends will memorialise babies they have lost through miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death, and

  (iii) Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is an opportunity to officially acknowledge the losses experienced by parents and families across Australia;

(b) acknowledges that in Australia:

  (i) it is estimated that one in four pregnancies result in miscarriage – that is 103 000 every year,

  (ii) in 2016, 2 849 lives were lost due to stillbirth or newborn death,

  (iii) despite medical advancements, the stillbirth rate has not changed in two decades,

  (iv) the rate of stillbirth and newborn death is 70 per cent higher in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and

  (v) Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is an opportunity to raise awareness of this difficult reality and start a conversation about miscarriage and infant loss;

(c) expresses sympathy to all families who have suffered a miscarriage, a stillbirth or infant death; and

(d) commends each and every person who has supported parents and families through their journey from the loss of a baby.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One minute, thank you, Senator Ruston.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The coalition government is committed to supporting those affected by pregnancy and infant loss and to improving infant and maternal health outcomes. Since coming into government we have invested $11.8 million in perinatal bereavement and depression peer support services. In the 2018-19 budget we committed $77.9 million to improve infant and maternal health, including programs to reduce the risks of stillborn and neonatal death; $20 million for Mackenzie's Mission, a reproductive genetic screening trial for debilitating birth disorders that can lead to infant loss, including spinal muscular atrophy, fragile X syndrome and cystic fibrosis; and $17.5 million for the Maternal Health and First 2000 Days program.

Question agreed to.