Page 3389 - Week 09 - Thursday, 22 August 2019
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
both celebration and solidarity. In light of next Friday not being a sitting day, I am very proud to wear purple and rainbow in this place today. I know that you like a pop of colour, too, Madam Assistant Speaker Cody.
Wear it Purple Day highlights the need to support the LGBTIQA+ community in the face of negative attitudes that unfortunately still permeate our society today. The Wear it Purple campaign began with the goal of drawing the public’s attention to the appalling issue that is the bullying and harassment of LGBTIQA+ young people in Australia, and it has now become a movement right across the world. It is vital to take a stand against bullying, homophobia and transphobia wherever they arise. A gesture as simple as wearing a certain colour can have a valuable impact, and together we can make a powerful display of support next week.
Also one of the most generous contributions we can make is giving the gift of life. Just one organ donor has the potential to give life to 10 or more people, yet 1,500 Australians are currently stuck on a waiting list to receive a transplant. Well over 10,000 people are on dialysis and would have their lives transformed by receiving a kidney transplant.
While the majority of Australians have expressed a wish to have their organs and tissues donated when they die, not all families are aware of their loved ones’ wishes. This is where Jersey Day, also on 30 August, comes in, to raise awareness of organ and tissue donation and, importantly, encourage more people to have conversations with their families and their loved ones about their preferences.
Madam Assistant Speaker, as you know, this is not the first time I have spoken in this chamber about organ and tissue donation, the invaluable work of DonateLife or constituents of mine who have left a legacy in giving in the most tragic of circumstances. These may be difficult conversations to have, but they are so very important, because it is our next of kin who need to consent to the donation of our organs and tissues. They need to know our wishes.
Organ donation does not take away the pain of loss, but by giving this gift of life at least some truly life-changing gifts can come from tragedy. I encourage everyone in this place to start a conversation about organ and tissue donation with their families and friends. I encourage everyone to not only consider donning a jersey next Friday to raise awareness of this important cause but also to have a splash of purple with it, too—clashing the fashion for a very important reason or two.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 4.13 pm until Tuesday, 17 September, at 10 am.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video