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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-06-04 Daily Xml
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Clinical Research

Ms COOK (Fisher) (15:22): I would like the member for Davenport to say 'Totally Locally' ten times in a row without tripping up! I rise today to speak to the fantastic work being done by our clinical researchers, as they work to connect and collaborate statewide, nationwide and internationally to combat the scourge of some of the most awful diseases. In this house again this week we have paid tribute to a wonderful trailblazing political leader in Joan Kirner. A role model and community leader whose legacy will ensure that this house is a truer representation of society than it ever was. This wonderful woman has, in recent years, succumbed in the cruellest way to cancer. Seventy-six really is too young in our modern world. It is with no fear that I make the assumption that every person in this house and in the other place has been personally and deeply affected by cancer, as well as many other cruel progressive and, most times, fatal diseases.

I have spoken before in this place about the need for support from all governments and community and corporate sectors for our research projects. As a country, but more importantly as a state, we have developed a reputation for outstanding and innovative medical research. I have many friends who use their amazing clinical skills to support trials in a vast array of fields, including cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological therapies. This work is recognised worldwide and we have a reputation that is a well deserved consequence of investment in and fostering of our universities, research institutes and clinicians. We have a culture of excellence in our health care and medical research.

On Tuesday night I was privileged to represent our Minister for Health at a dinner hosted by the Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR). Colleagues from this and the other place were truly inspired by the work of Professor Ashok Saluja. This professor, over a career spanning nearly 40 years, has worked tirelessly in the field of cancer research. He is a man on a mission to cure pancreatic cancer. He was originally educated in India before moving to the United States where he gained a doctoral degree in biochemistry and spent 20 years at Harvard before joining the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The life of a researcher is often a lonely one with many hours of hard work going unrecognised with the determination to succeed and truly change the course of history being a driving force. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers with the five-year survival rate being amongst one of the lowest of all cancers. Around 2,500 Australians are diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic cancer each year and many of those people succumb to the disease within months. Over 30 years of sustained funding, Professor Saluja is now making some progress. It is fantastic news.

It was also inspiring to spend time with the amazing Australian Research Specialist, Dr Phoebe Phillips. She is the current president of the ASMR and she has been mentored through her PhD with Prof Saluja. She works with teams across Australia, including those from our own centre of excellence, SAHMRI. This centre sits within what will be one of the largest precincts of its kind in the southern hemisphere and is expected to have 8,000 clinicians, researchers and support staff working within it on completion, as well as supporting the development and launching the careers of 6,000 students.

Research underpins the work we do in all evidence-based practice prevention programs, not only in health but in education and crime prevention just to name a few. These areas of social policy are vital pillars to our wellbeing. We must keep the pressure on the federal government to ensure research funding is not diminished. We risk squeezing out our next generation of brilliant minds. There are many old quotes and cliches that support research as a best practice starting point approach to effecting social policy, so I close by saying that prevention is better than cure. There is no point in closing the gate once the horse has bolted, and an apple a day will surely keep the doctor away.

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