RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS - Queensland Parliament ...

31 Oct 2012 Adjournment 2347
Early detection and prevention of breast cancer not only increases survival rates but also
improves the quality of life for those suffering and their families. Education and early detection are key to
ensuring survival from the disease. These are the principles that motivated the Goss Labor government
to establish BreastScreen Queensland 20 years ago. Its success speaks for itself and is even
acknowledged by the current LNP government.
According to a press release issued by the Minister for Health today, deaths from breast cancer
have declined in Queensland by 28 per cent since the program’s inception and survival rates have
improved to about 89 per cent. If early detection and follow-up are proven principles that save lives, if
education and prevention are proven approaches that keep people out of hospital, then why is this
government intent on closing down, defunding or altering services and programs that reduce disease
and illness in our community through these approaches?
From the defunding of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities and the Heart
Foundation’s walking program to the devolution of BreastScreen Queensland and the initial decision to
close the Tuberculosis Control Centre, this government has shown that prevention and education are
not priorities. It is remarkable that the Minister for Health would on one hand applaud Queensland’s
success in reducing breast cancer rates while on the other hand oversee the destruction of the
centralised approach that has led to this success. It has been the hallmark of its success.
We saw during estimates ministers warning of the dangers of tuberculosis while their own
government was still planning to close the Tuberculosis Control Centre in my electorate of South
Brisbane. I am glad to hear that the Minister for Health has now backflipped on this decision and the
Tuberculosis Control Centre will remain open at the PA Hospital.
I want to congratulate the staff at the Tuberculosis Control Centre and the Nurses Union for their
strong campaign against the closure. It must have been an incredibly anxious time for the dedicated
doctors and nurses whose jobs were left in limbo for over three months. I have personally visited the
Tuberculosis Control Centre and I do understand how busy and well used this facility is. Sadly, the
backflip on the Tuberculosis Control Centre is indicative of a government that cuts, axes and slashes
and then thinks later.
Queensland Kids; Health Law Research Centre
Dr DAVIS (Stafford—LNP) (12.17 am): The evening of Saturday, 20 October 2012 was a very
special night in the Stafford electorate as it was the inaugural Turning the Light On for Hummingbird
House dinner to raise vital funds for the children’s charity Queensland Kids. Our marvellous and
generous host and sponsor was the Bank of Queensland Stafford branch manager, Ms Tammie Smart.
The venue was the excellent Brothers Grange Community Sports Club. There was fantastic music from
a number of entertainers.
It was a great evening with the very serious purpose of helping to raise $6 million to establish
Hummingbird House, a hospice for children’s end-of-life care, aiming to provide a much needed
supportive home away from home for families devastated by a child’s life-limiting disease. I was
honoured to be guest speaker and provide my support for a service that will play a very essential role in
enhancing the quality of life for children whose quantity of life is severely restricted. Co-founders of
Queensland Kids, Paul and Gabrielle Quilliam, are to be thanked and congratulated for their vision and
deep desire to bring more hope to the lives of these children and their families.
The dedication from health professionals working in this field was very evident, as was the
widespread support from families, community members, church and charitable organisations and
businesses. They all added to my commitment to do what I can to see this through to delivery.
Another important initiative in this area took place on 25 October with the launch of the Health
Law Research Centre, recently established in QUT’s Faculty of Law, and recognising the important work
of co-directors Professor Ben White and Professor Lindy Willmott and their colleagues. The centre was
opened by the Hon. Michael Kirby AC, CMG and Minister Springborg. I was pleased to be there,
continuing my longstanding occasional interaction with the co-directors. Amongst its many roles, this
centre is helping to ensure that medical and legal systems align in permitting the exercise of appropriate
patient and surrogate choice in complex areas such as withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining
medical treatment, the provision of futile treatment at end of life and palliative care. This government
has a great opportunity to work with community initiatives to ensure that Queenslanders of all ages have
access to a full spectrum of quality palliative-care services.
Maryborough, Open-House Event
Mrs MADDERN (Maryborough—LNP) (12.20 am): On Saturday, 27 October 2012 Maryborough
opened her very special buildings to allow her citizens and visitors to view these grand old buildings free
of charge. This event was a joint partnership between the National Trust and the Fraser Coast Regional
Council. It is the only open-house event held in regional Australia. Other open-house events are held in
Melbourne and Brisbane. Adelaide held its inaugural open house this year. Twenty buildings were