Organ Donation

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:42): I move:

That this council—

1. Notes that 24 July to 31 July is DonateLife Week 2022;

2. Recognises that organ and tissue donation saves many lives every year;

3. Encourages people to discuss organ donation with their family and friends; and

4. Acknowledges the life-changing decision of donors and their families.

Organ and tissue donation saves lives. Last year, the lives of 1,174 Australians were changed by receiving an organ transplant thanks to the generosity of 421 deceased organ donors and their families—1,174 Australians. They are fathers, mothers, grandparents, children, partners and friends. I would like to acknowledge every donor and thank their families who have said yes to donation. It is a decision no-one ever wants to make, a decision we all hope we never have to make.

The generosity of those families to make such a selfless decision at such an awful moment in their lives is remarkable, but there is something we can all do to make that moment a little bit easier for our loved ones should the need ever arise: we can talk about organ and tissue donation with them. If you would like to be a donor, you can tell your loved one and, if you want to be a donor, you can register.

DonateLife Week 2022 was held earlier this year from 24 July to 31 July. The week plays an important role in encouraging more Australians to have those conversations with their loved ones and to register as an organ and tissue donor. This year, the DonateLife Week launch event for South Australia included the first annual walk for DonateLife South Australia through Adelaide's Elder Park. It was an absolute pleasure to join Heather Makris, donor recipient and organiser of the walk, and walk with her as we remembered those who gave the gift of life and said thank you to their families.

It was also the start of the Great Registration Race, which aims to encourage 100,000 more Aussies to register as organ and tissue donors. While South Australia has the highest registration rate in the country, 73 per cent of the population registered to be a donor, we must continue to drive that number higher. There are more than 1,700 Australians waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and thousands more whose lives could be transformed through organ and tissue donation.

It only takes one minute to sign up as an organ and tissue donor. You can register on the DonateLife website or with just three taps in your Express Plus Medicare app. After two years where our health system has been ravaged by COVID-19 it is important that we all do what we can to help increase donor rates. The national donor program was severely impacted by COVID-19. Donation and transplant activity across the country decreased as a result of the challenges faced by our hospitals, and logistical challenges that included COVID-19 restrictions, flight reductions and border closures.

In 2020, there was a 12 per cent decrease in the number of people receiving a transplant and a 16 per cent decrease in the number of donors compared to 2019. In 2021, there was a 7 per cent decrease in the number of people receiving an organ transplant, and a 9 per cent decrease in the number of deceased donors compared to 2020. South Australia was the only jurisdiction to exceed the national donors per million population target of 25 donors per million population, with a rate of 28.2 donors per million population.

I would like to acknowledge the work that DonateLife South Australia does to coordinate all organ and tissue donor activities across the state. DonateLife works with hospitals, healthcare specialists and donor families, raising awareness, providing education and offering care and support. Their tireless efforts ensure that South Australia continues to be nation-leading in this space.

I would like to acknowledge the generosity of all Australians who donate or have registered to donate their organs and tissue. And, importantly, I encourage everyone to talk about organ and tissue donation with your loved ones. Tell them if you want to be a donor and please register as an organ and tissue donor; it only takes one minute.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.