Grievance Debate

RED NOSE DAY

Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (15:10): I rise today to speak on the issue of sudden infant death syndrome and the important work undertaken by SIDS and Kids. I am sure that you are all aware in this house that tomorrow is Red Nose Day, which is a national day for awareness and fundraising for sudden infant death syndrome. I would like to acknowledge my learned colleagues, including the member for Schubert and our whip, for supporting this cause by wearing a red nose in the house today. Whilst it is a funny sight to see members in this house wearing a red nose, the issue of an unexplained death of a baby or a young child is heartbreaking. My family has also been touched by SIDS, and so I support the SIDS and Kids campaign wholeheartedly.

Funds raised through 23 years of Red Nose Day have been instrumental in achieving an 85 per cent reduction in cases of SIDS in Australia. Red Nose Day provides SIDS and Kids with critical funding for a 24-hour bereavement support line, community education to reduce incidents of fatal sleeping accidents and research on the cause of infant death and the risk factors for unexplained stillbirth. To date, it is estimated that SIDS and Kids has saved the lives of over 6,500 babies across Australia. However, tragically, the exact cause of SIDS is still unidentified. What we do know, though, is that families of babies and young children are able to reduce the incidence of SIDS by avoiding exposing babies to tobacco smoke, sleep baby on their back from birth in a safe sleeping environment free of toys, pillows and doonas.

This Red Nose Day SIDS and Kids is highlighting the dangers of babies sharing sleeping surfaces, which has been linked to an increased risk of SIDS and fatal sleep accidents: 46 per cent of infants who died suddenly and unexpectedly in Australia in 2007 died while co-sleeping. The sudden and unexplained death of one baby is one too many, and so I urge members of this house to lead by example and support Red Nose Day on Friday 25 June.