Motions

Restart a Heart Day

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. F. Pangallo:

That this council—

1. Recognises that 16 October is internationally recognised as Restart a Heart Day;

2. Acknowledges that rapid access to automated external defibrillator (AED) devices and the application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can lift survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests from 10 per cent to 70 per cent;

3. Calls on the government to promote first aid programs to train more people in CPR and the use of AEDs;

4. Recommends the government include a mandatory instruction course in CPR and the use of an AED as part of the training process to acquire a driver's licence; and

5. Commends the South Australian parliament in unanimously passing the first laws in the nation making AEDs widely accessible in the community, to apply from 1 January 2025.

(Continued from 18 October 2023.)

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (20:56): I note that I have an amendment to this motion, which the mover is supportive of. I move:

Leave out paragraph 4 and insert new paragraph as follows:

4. Requests the government consider including a mandatory instruction course in CPR and the use of an AED as part of the training process to acquire a driver's licence; and

Firstly, let me thank the Hon. Frank Pangallo for bringing this motion to the parliament. The Malinauskas Labor government acknowledges that 16 October is internationally recognised as Restart a Heart Day and acknowledges that rapid access to an AED device and the application of CPR can significantly lift survival rates in sudden cardiac arrest.

We were proud to support the Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2022, which was historic legislation brought to this parliament by the Hon. Frank Pangallo. This legislation will make life-saving AEDs mandatory in public buildings such as schools, universities, libraries, sporting facilities, local council offices, theatres and swimming pools to help save the lives of South Australians from cardiac arrest.

This government has already taken positive steps to install AEDs in places this legislation mandates, including in ambulance, MFS, CFS and SES vehicles. We have also commenced a new grant program helping community and sporting organisations purchase AEDs. The first round of the AED grants program provided over 200 grants to over 160 organisations right across the state.

There is substantial evidence that widespread access to AEDs can help prevent death by a cardiac arrest. According to the Heart Foundation time is everything in a cardiac arrest. Every minute without defibrillation to restart the heart reduces the chance of surviving by 10 per cent. Public access to AEDs will help to reduce this risk. So we join the Hon. Frank Pangallo in commending the South Australian parliament in unanimously passing the first laws in the nation making AEDs widely accessible in the community, and we commend the Hon. Frank Pangallo for bringing this important legislation and today's motion to the parliament.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (20:58): I rise to express the opposition's support for the Hon. Frank Pangallo's Restart a Heart Day motion, an initiative that underscores the critical importance of life-saving skills and resources such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). This motion brings vital attention to the reality that cardiac arrest is a medical emergency where every second counts and that rapid intervention can often mean the difference between life and death.

Firstly, this motion acknowledges 16 October is Restart a Heart Day, a day recognised internationally to promote awareness and education in CPR and AED usage. The origins of Restart a Heart Day may be traced back to Europe, but its mission to save lives is universal. This global initiative, led by the Council of Ambulance Authorities, promotes using CPR and AEDs to improve survival rates following sudden cardiac arrest.

As we know, cardiac arrest affects over 25,000 Australians every year, with a survival rate that is far too low. Without immediate chest compressions and defibrillation, survival chances decrease by about 10 per cent with every passing minute. On the other hand, if an AED is applied within the first minute, survival chances rise dramatically (close to 90 per cent). This stark contrast underscores the necessity of ensuring that all South Australians have access to AED devices and basic training in CPR.

This motion calls on the government to take active steps towards expanding first aid training across our state, empowering more people with the knowledge and skills to administer CPR and use an AED. I commend South Australia for setting a national example by passing the Automated External Defibrillator (Public Access) Bill in 2022, mandating that AEDs be accessible to the public. South Australia leads the nation in this respect, and we are one of only a handful of places globally to enact such comprehensive AED legislation.

The motion also recommends that the government consider mandatory instruction in CPR and AED usage as a practical and impactful addition to driver licence training. This practice has proven successful in several European nations where first aid training is often incorporated into driver education. While the proposal to make it mandatory may not gain immediate legislative support, the recommendations remain constructive, aiming to instil life-saving skills in our community, potentially turning everyday citizens into first responders. I note that the Hon. Reggie Martin, as he has already stated, has an amendment to paragraph 4 of the motion and the opposition are happy to support that amendment.

As a community, we are collectively responsible for acting when others face medical emergencies. By supporting this motion, we advocate for increased public access to AEDs and for a South Australia that is better prepared, educated and ready to respond. This commitment is more than just policy, it is a declaration of our intention to safeguard the lives of South Australians wherever and whenever they may face cardiac arrest.

Supporting this motion is part of taking steps to promote these life-saving practices across our communities. Together, we can ensure that critical interventions are not just possible but accessible for all South Australians.

The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (21:01): I rise to speak very briefly on behalf of the Greens in support of the motion. We note that Restart a Heart Day is a global initiative of the European Resuscitation Council, and it is coordinated in Australia and New Zealand by the Council of Ambulance Authorities to raise awareness and educate the community about CPR and AEDs in the community.

As other members have observed, the Hon. Frank Pangallo has been a real leader in this space and put forward national leading legislation around improving access to defibrillators, which will save lives, so I pay credit to the honourable member for his advocacy on that.

When I saw this motion I was reminded that I used to be in the Scouts, and I remember I did a CPR course many years ago when I was in the Boy Scouts—it was part of our training—and it is a reminder for me that I need to have a refresher. As this motion identifies, knowing how to do CPR is really important in terms of being able to save lives, so definitely a worthwhile investment. I thank the honourable member for putting this on the council's agenda.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (21:02): I thank all the honourable members for their comments today: the Hon. Reggie Martin, the Hon. Nicola Centofanti, and of course the Hon. Rob Simms for his words of support and encouragement. I note that the Hon. Reggie Martin does have an amendment, and that amendment deals with a section of the motion in which I ask that the government consider mandating CPR/first aid/AED training as part of getting a driver's licence.

As I said earlier today in the driving instructors bill, I have had some really cordial discussions with the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis, Minister for Transport, and moves are afoot already now to look at introducing first aid as part of a process of getting a driver's licence. He has given me an undertaking that they will certainly look at doing it if it is feasible, and I know that it is. He was quite keen on the idea.

In closing, not a day passes when I do not see reports popping up on my phone, my Instagram account or on LinkedIn of people whose lives have been saved because there has been ready access to an AED. It is becoming more common in Australia now, which is good to see. A lot of businesses, sporting clubs and other places are acknowledging and realising the importance of having these devices in the community and also in close proximity to where people gather or areas that they use in numbers, and it is heartening to see that we will get more of these as time rolls on, particularly in South Australia. With that, I commend the motion.

Amendment carried; motion as amended carried.