Organ Donation

_{04 June, 2008}

Ms JARRATT (Whitsunday—ALP) (11.32 am): Sometimes I complain about my life—I am too
busy, I am too tired or I am away from home too much. It is easy to feel sorry for ourselves in the
absence of a relevant point of comparison. These days when I feel the urge to have a good old whinge I
conjure the image of my friend Janet Jennings sitting in her chair during the five hours it takes for her to
complete her dialysis regime every second day. Due to her failed kidneys and type 1 diabetes, Janet
depends on the bulky home dialysis unit for life itself while she waits for news that donor kidneys and
pancreas have become available.

I am so proud of Janet, who holds down a job, plays squash and lives her life with an unexpected
optimism, but I cannot help thinking how unjust it is that her life hangs by such a tenuous thread when it
could so easily be different. Like 176 people across the state who are on the organ transplant waiting
list, Janet hardly dares to dream of what life might be like with healthy organs because there is no
guarantee that her number will come up any time soon. It is a hideous waiting game.

I am delighted therefore that the Premier has tackled the issue of organ donation head-on by
establishing a parliamentary select committee under the leadership of Karen Struthers, the
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health. The committee will examine many issues relating to
organ donation, but for me the crux of the committee’s work is the examination of an opt-out system of
organ donation and how this might work in Queensland. Basically an opt-out system of organ donation
would register all Queenslanders as organ donors unless there is a specific registration to the contrary.
With this simple change to the way organ donation is managed, many lives might be transformed. I
encourage all Queenslanders to give careful thought to this option and to make a submission to the
committee in the time available.

In the meantime, donor registration is still very important, and having your licence marked is not
enough. You must register as a donor with the Australian Organ Donor Register. The register is
available online at aodr@medicareaustralia.gov.au or by freecall 1800777203.

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