Louise Pratt (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the beginning of the week, on Monday 24 October, we had World Polio Day, an occasion aimed at drawing global attention to the importance of continued international commitment to polio eradication. I'm delighted that in our government budget there is a $43.5 million commitment to public-private partnership to eradicate polio worldwide through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which has been going since 1988.

I want to acknowledge the tireless work of people right around the globe toward this program—in particular, the key role that Rotary Australia and Rotary International have played globally in the eradication of poliovirus. Since the initiative began in 1988, cases have been reduced from some 350,000 a year to just six officially diagnosed last year. But often we think we are on the cusp of its eradication when more cases pop up, with devastating impact for those affected.

International organisations such as Global Citizen and Rotary have spearheaded the highly effective campaign to tackle this issue globally. I want to give a shout-out to the legacy and history of this issue. Back in 2011, local activist Michael Sheldrick, who has gone on to work for Global Citizen, lobbied Prime Minister Gillard at CHOGM. Back then, that turned into a $50 million pledge to the polio eradication effort, and today I'm very pleased and proud to acknowledge our current commitment. (Time expired)