LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (14:38): Will the Minister for Mineral Resources Development provide the council with details of how the South Australian mining industry is helping to tackle leukaemia and providing support services for those people and their families who have been diagnosed with blood cancers?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Police, Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for his question. It was with great honour that I was recently asked to become the Ambassador for the Leukaemia Foundation's World's Greatest Shave Mining Challenge to be held from 13 to 15 March. As much as it may disappoint members, I will not be shaving my head to raise funds, because I think nature is doing a good enough job; however, I have been encouraging—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: You can dye it as well. I have not decided yet about dyeing it.

An honourable member: I am already leading the charge.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: That is right. I have been encouraging mining sites across the state to take part in this important fund-raising initiative. This is the first time that the Leukaemia Foundation has extended its fund-raising efforts through the Mine Challenge to South Australia after successful campaigns in Queensland and Western Australia. Again, that decision reflects the expansion of the mining sector in this state and the recognition that there are now sufficient resource developments and mine support service companies operating here to warrant a separate fund-raising campaign for South Australia.

The Leukaemia Foundation has a proud Australian history dating back more than 30 years, and it is marking its 10th year here in South Australia. The foundation provides personalised care and support to patients and families who are living with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. The foundation offers a range of practical assistance to South Australians across the state, including home away from home accommodation, transport to and from hospitals in Adelaide, education support programs and emotional support. All of those are at no cost to these families.

Each week 14 South Australians will be diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. More than 2,500 South Australians are currently living with a blood cancer and, for reasons that are not entirely clear, South Australia has the highest rates of leukaemia and myeloma in Australia. A major source of income for the Leukaemia Foundation's work is through events such as the annual World's Greatest Shave. Celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2008, the World's Greatest Shave is one of Australia's biggest fundraising events and raised $950,000 in South Australia in 2007. This year the foundation expects to pass the $1 million mark for the first time.

An important element of the World's Greatest Shave is the mining challenge. It was with great pleasure that I was able to launch the inaugural mining challenge campaign in South Australia at a boardroom lunch, supported by Price Waterhouse Coopers, a key supporter of the Leukaemia Foundation's fundraising efforts in this country. That lunch was attended by more than 30 representatives of the mining sector in this state, including BHP Billiton and the General Manager of the Leukaemia Foundation, Simon Matthias. I have been informed by the foundation that since the 6 February launch nine mining companies in South Australia have so far signed up to this year's mine challenge, including Australian Zircon, Sandvik Mining and Construction, ESS Worldwide, Southern Uranium, Oxiana Limited, Heathcote Resources, Penrice Mining Operations, PIRSA and Uranium One Australia.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Yes, the minerals division will be sponsoring this. As ambassador for the mine challenge I strongly support this opportunity for the mining and minerals sector to make a positive and real difference to South Australians living with a blood cancer.

As Minister for Mineral Resources Development, I am extremely pleased that the Leukaemia Foundation has decided to extend its fundraising efforts to the state's mining sector at an important time in the industry's history. During the past five years this state has experienced an impressive expansion in the minerals exploration industry. The Leukaemia Foundation's mine challenge is also an opportunity to highlight the human face of Australia's mineral resources industry. As such it is a timely remainder that, amid the ongoing mining boom that has brought so much prosperity to this country, there is still nothing more important than personal health and well-being.

I urge senior managers in mining and mining support services, their families and donors to support the mine challenge on as many levels as possible. By taking part in the World's Greatest Shave mine challenge companies will not only deliver benefits to the South Australian community through fundraising but also provide an opportunity for workforces, particularly in many of the new projects opening up in this state, to work together and build up a positive internal culture. In the tenth year of the World's Greatest Shave I am sure that with the support of the local industry the inaugural mine challenge in South Australia will be an outstanding success.