Page 543 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 15 February 2017
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Immigration should be non-discriminatory on the basis of nationality, ethnicity, religion, language, gender, sexuality and socio-economic background. Seeking asylum is a humanitarian issue rather than an issue of border security or defence. People seeking asylum must be treated with compassion and dignity. The treatment of refugees should be humane, transparent, predictable and consistent. Indefinite mandatory detention of refugees and asylum seekers is just plain wrong.
The ACT is doing its bit in the current political environment by being a refugee welcome zone and part of the safe haven enterprise visa scheme. However, the lack of leadership at a national level demands people to stand up and speak out; and many are, such as Adam and Ned Richards, who have been joined by the refugee action committee.
Their efforts to keep this issue on the agenda in the ACT and speak up for those people who are voiceless or who have been denied a voice have been tireless. The work highlights the importance of the community having a voice and ensuring that decision-makers consider the impacts of their decisions on everyday people.
I would also like to acknowledge that a former member of this place, John Hargreaves, was one of the speakers at the rally. For all these reasons, the ACT Greens are going to continue to listen to the wider community and work to ensure that humane voices, voices of compassion and voices of common sense are represented in the Assembly.
Ovarian cancer
MR COE (Yerrabi—Leader of the Opposition) (6.31): Tomorrow the Canberra Liberals will wear teal ribbons in support of the campaign to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Next Wednesday, 22 February is Teal Ribbon Day. On that day we encourage all Australians to purchase and wear a teal ribbon to raise awareness of ovarian cancer to show support for the women and their families who are living with the disease and to remember those who have passed away as a result of it.
February is ovarian cancer awareness month. It is held to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. The number of women affected by the disease each year is significant. The impact it has on these women and their loved ones is, of course, considerable. In 2017 ovarian cancer is estimated to be the eighth most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst females in Australia. The estimated number of new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in 2017 is likely to be 1,580.
Ovarian cancer has the lowest survival rate of any women’s cancer and is well below the average for all cancers. Treatments for this dreadful disease have changed very little since the 1970s and 75 per cent of women are unfortunately diagnosed at an advanced stage. Sadly, the estimated number of deaths from the disease in 2017 is likely to be over 1,000.
It can be difficult to diagnose ovarian cancer because the symptoms are ones that many women will have on occasion and they are often symptoms of less serious and more common health problems. Women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer
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