Richard Dowling (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When fellow Tasmanian and former World Health Organization scientist Harley Stanton was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2019, his life changed overnight. He joined more than 200,000 Australians living with the disease, a figure expected to double by 2040. In fact, Parkinson's disease is now the fastest growing neurological disorder in the world. There is no cure and no treatment to slow it down.

For Harley, the hardest thing after diagnosis wasn't just the shock; it was the silence. Information was patchy. Support was scattered. National coordination was completely lacking. In rural Tasmania, it was even harder to find your way around the system, but Harley is not someone who sits still. He quickly founded Wings for Parkinson's, an advocacy group dedicated to awareness, research and early diagnosis. From there, his work grew. He built connections with people across the country, working to bring Parkinson's organisations together under one group. That effort culminated in 2024, when the National Parkinson's Alliance was launched at the Summit to End Parkinson's Disease right here at Parliament House. I thank Senator Wendy Askew and former senator Catryna Bilyk, co-chairs of the parliamentary friendship group for Parkinson's for making that possible.

When I met Harley recently, one thing he told me was how immensely grateful he said he was thankful for the support and passion of former senator Catryna Bilyk in driving change for Parkinson's patients. It wasn't just Harley. Many other advocates, carers and clinicians alike have told me the same. Catryna Bilyk's advocacy has been practical as well as personal—pressing for investment in services, for investment in research and for greater recognition of the burden that Parkinson's places on families. I thank Catryna Bilyk and I thank Harley and every advocate, clinician and researcher who is working to improve lives today and to one day consign Parkinson's to the pages of history.