Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 1 Hansard (20 February) . . Page.. 187 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

That, notwithstanding the resolution of the Assembly of 9 March 1995 establishing general purpose standing committees, this Assembly refer the provision of immunisation against disease for children residing and being educated in the Australian Capital Territory to the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs for inquiry and report by the first sitting day in August 1997, with particular reference to:

(1) the legal implications and implications for civil liberties;

(2) the necessity and desirability of immunisation;

(3) immunisation rates and trends;

(4) immunisation availability and service provision;

(5) relevant legislative considerations and framework;

(6) suggested strategies for improving our immunisation rates; and

(7) any other related matter.

It is no secret that immunisation rates have continued to fall over the past decade and that vaccine-preventable diseases have increased dramatically during that time. Last century, it was not uncommon for several children in one family to die from measles, diphtheria or whooping cough. When mass immunisation was first introduced, around 40 years ago, it was hailed as the most potent weapon ever developed in the world of infectious disease. Any way you look at it, the success of immunisation has been nothing short of spectacular. Smallpox has been all but wiped off the face of the earth and several other diseases have been all but wiped out.

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, it now seems that we are getting complacent. National immunisation rates, which, less than 10 years ago, were estimated to be around 80 to 90 per cent, currently stand at 53 per cent. Fortunately for us here in the ACT, we are leading the nation, with 67 per cent; but this is still well short of the 95 per cent recommendation of the National Health and Medical Research Council. Mr Speaker, as the father of young children, apart from being a member of this Assembly, I am not prepared to stand by and be silent while about one-third of the children in Canberra, and one-third of the children in my electorate, are left open to possibly contracting debilitating diseases such as measles and whooping cough, the latter with possible deadly consequences. The experts say that 60 per cent immunisation is not enough to stop the spread of the disease. I hope that the Assembly will agree with this motion of mine to allow my committee to investigate this matter and, after consulting the wider Canberra community, to bring forward a series of recommendations and, if needed, relevant legislative considerations.

Mr Speaker, I have made no secret of the fact that I consider compulsory immunisation my preferred option. However, after making this known, I received a number of phone calls and a fair amount of information from people who said exactly the opposite - that compulsory immunisation is not the way to go and that there are many risks involved.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .