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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-03 Daily Xml
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World Autism Month

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (16:16): Today, I rise to speak about World Autism Month. We have much to celebrate in SA, as we are leading the way in autism and inclusion. For those who do not know, World Autism Month happens every April, along with World Autism Day, which falls on 2 April. In SA, we have been leading the way when it comes to autism inclusion, not just for the nation but for the world or, as my kids like to say, in the galaxy.

This has been the first World Autism Day and World Autism Month since last August when the South Australian Premier and member for Croydon, Peter Malinauskas, set about becoming a world leader by creating a government member solely focused on the autistic and autism communities. Since then, I have been immensely proud to have taken on this groundbreaking role.

We have delivered the nation's largest autism inclusion network in public primary schools since we have taken on this responsibility. We have also undertaken record consultation on the state's first ever Autism Strategy, and we have worked to establish the nation's first predominantly autistic-led advisory committee.

We have created the nation's first office for autism and appointed an autistic director to lead this historic office based in the heart and in the centre of government, in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I would really like to congratulate Dr Emma Goodall, who has taken on this role as director of this nation-leading office, and a very historical office indeed.

We have partnered with private industries like Adelaide 36ers, the Adelaide Zoo and supermarket giant Drakes, and delivered more inclusive experiences for the autistic and autism communities. I was lucky enough to be at the Drakes in Golden Grove last night to experience shopping with the dim lights and no beeping at the cash registers or sound and music blaring through the speakers, and it was an incredible experience. I encourage everyone to head along on a Tuesday night between 6 and 9pm at either of Drakes' Hallett Cove or Golden Grove stores.

Importantly, since the creation of this role, parliament has also seen for the very first time that the lights have been lit up in a spectrum of colours on the outside of Parliament House to display the diverse community that the autistic and autism community is in South Australia. It was a really heartwarming evening to see so many members come together—it was a little bit chilly on that Sunday night—to see the building lit up in a spectrum of colours.

Whilst it may have taken a little bit of time, because it was the end of daylight saving that night, it was worth waiting for, and the community really enjoyed being a part of that moment, seeing the lights coming on in Parliament House. I thank all of the parliament staff who assisted in lighting up the building. I know the community was very grateful for this event.

At the end of autism month, I would like to reflect on the incredible achievements the Malinauskas Labor government have been able to make by working side by side with the autistic and autism communities. Each step of the way we have learnt something incredibly important: that we must listen, we must hear and we also must act on what we are hearing. I feel very proud to have taken on this very important role, and I cannot wait to see what we can achieve by the next World Autism Day.

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