Australian Red Cross

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (12:51): I move:

That this house—

(a) notes the Australian Red Cross is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of its founding on 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War I;

(b) congratulates generations of Australians for their extraordinary contributions through the everyday work of the Red Cross; and

(c) continues to support the independent, neutral and impartial humanitarian mission of Red Cross to work with and assist the most vulnerable people in need, both in Australia and internationally.

This year, 2014, is the centenary year of the Red Cross in Australia, a substantial milestone in the social history of this nation, and it commemorates 100 years of humanitarian service to the people of Australia.

I would like to congratulate first, Sue Vardon AO, Chair of SA Red Cross and Helen Connelly, the Executive Director of SA Red Cross, and their team, and generations of Australians for their extraordinary contributions through the everyday work of the Red Cross. It is important that we continue to support the independent, neutral and impartial mission of Red Cross to work with and assist the most vulnerable people in need, both in Australia and internationally.

Many Australians have shared a personal connection with the Red Cross from its humanitarian role during two World Wars and other wars, to preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural disasters, helping vulnerable people and communities, helping them to overcome disadvantage, and also through its world-class blood service that is available.

The Red Cross was of particular importance to many Australian prisoners of war interned by the Japanese during World War II. The Red Cross was their only source of aid in many cases, or contact with the outside world, in the most appalling of circumstances. For 100 years the Australian Red Cross has enjoyed a unique auxiliary status to the public authorities in the humanitarian field, working in partnership with governments of different political persuasions, both in Australia and internationally, to alleviate suffering in a voluntary aid capacity whilst adhering to its principles of independence, neutrality and impartiality.

The Australian Red Cross is part of the world's largest, arguably, humanitarian movement, with millions of volunteers working in over 100 countries, united by the fundamental principle of preventing and alleviating human suffering without discrimination and wherever it may be found in times of war, conflict, disaster or personal crisis.

Today the Australian Red Cross has a network of, some say, many hundreds of thousands of volunteers, members, staff, donors, aid workers and supporters. I would like to particularly acknowledge the work that Red Cross volunteers from Australia did, helping with the recovery effort after the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

In July 2014 in my own electorate I attended a Red Cross Gala Dinner to celebrate the Centenary of the Australian Red Cross at the Fogolar Furlan Function Centre in my electorate. I would like to especially thank Cavallaro Lorenzo Ferini, the President of the Fogolar Furlan Club, and the Hon. Julian F. Stefani OAM, JP, a former member of the other place, as well as the Hon Dean  Brown who also attended that function. It was at this function that I met members of the state Red Cross, and it was an absolute pleasure to see and share their success stories and pay tribute to this great organisation.

As a member of this place, I believe that all sides of politics should honour the Red Cross's service to Australia. It is not a partisan issue, I know members on both sides of the house have good relations with this group and have given great support to the Red Cross over a number of years, and I would call for that support to continue. I encourage all members to support the motion and continue to support the fantastic work of the Red Cross.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (12:55): The Red Cross has been active in Australia since 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War I. It quickly became the leading wartime voluntary charity, appealing largely to Australian women. Twenty-five years later, during World War II, Red Cross was the largest charitable organisation in Australia, both in terms of the scale of its operations and also in the support it received from the Australian people. From a national population of 7 million, nearly half a million people were members of the Red Cross at that time.

Red Cross branches and volunteers were vital through the post-war reconstruction period, focusing on social welfare and national emergencies, including floods and bushfires. The Red Cross blood service and first aid programs were also established at this time. The Australian Red Cross works tirelessly to: help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters; increase international aid and development; champion international humanitarian law; address the impact of migration; partner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; reconnect socially isolated individuals with their communities; strengthen communities trapped in a cycle of disadvantage; and provide a world-class blood service.

Currently, the Australian Red Cross has 30,000 volunteers, including 2,400 South Australians. Volunteers help make daily phone calls to older people living alone to check that they are okay, serve nutritious breakfasts to schoolchildren who may otherwise go without, provide a friendly face and customer service at Red Cross shops, and are trained to support the community if a disaster strikes.

The Australian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The movement's mission is to prevent or reduce human suffering wherever it is found and its focus in Australia is international humanitarian law programs and refugee services. In all its activities, volunteers, members and staff are guided by the fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement being:

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst people.

Impartiality

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence

The movement is independent. The national societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the movement.

Voluntary service

It is not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity

There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent society in any one country.

Universality

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities in helping each other, is worldwide.

I commend the member for Hartley for bringing this motion to the house, and I support the motion.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Gardner.

Sitting suspended from 12:59 to 14:00.