I congratulate Cancer Voices New South Wales on the recent success of its palliative care campaign and for the incredible work that this organisation has been able to accomplish. Cancer Voices New South Wales, which recently marked its tenth anniversary, provides an independent voice for people affected by cancer.
It serves as a valuable umbrella for support and advocacy groups and its ambition is to represent and support the needs of the 40,000 people who are diagnosed with cancer in this State each year. It does so through its three key programs: a consumer representatives program through which it regularly consults with experts in the field and involves them in the decision-making processes, a consumer involvement in research program that specialises in providing the thoughts of its members and consumers to researchers and their funders, and the area cancer services program, which sees regular engagement take place across New South Wales on local and regional issues that shape the direction of its future advocacy.
Some of the achievements of Cancer Voices New South Wales in its first 10 years include assistance in designing a number of the State's hospital cancer centres such as Royal North Shore, and the completion of the radiotherapy for public cancer patients on the Central Coast campaign, as well as successfully advocating to the Cancer Council New South Wales for financial assistance packages and pro bono and financial advice for cancer patients. But perhaps the biggest achievement of all was the success of the organisation's palliative care campaign, in which the cancer advocate worked with one of its members to restore more than $1 million of funding that had been cut by the previous Labor Government. The inspirational Dr Yvonne McMaster spearheaded a campaign throughout northern Sydney, collecting more than 23,000 signatures for a petition that was tabled in Parliament in June by Premier Barry O'Farrell.
The campaign called for the immediate and direct provision of a level of funding to Hammond Care that would be sufficient to restore the delivery of palliative care in northern Sydney, and that funding of palliative care throughout the State reflected the true requirements of communities across New South Wales. I commend the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, and the Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, for being as passionate on the issue of palliative care as I am. I congratulate the Government on restoring greatly needed funds so that such programs can continue in northern Sydney. These programs had been shamefully taken away by the previous Government, which was intent on penalising my community because of the way residents vote.
One case that illustrates why funds are needed for palliative care was broadcast last night on the ABC network's Australian Story program, in which I, along with a quarter of a million others across the State, learned the story of Gavin Larkin, the founder of R U OK? Day. This courageous man, who has made a difference to the lives of so many, is currently receiving palliative care. Stories such as his highlight why funding for palliative care is incredibly important not only in northern Sydney but also across New South Wales. I send my best wishes to Gavin and his family—my thoughts are with you. I congratulate Cancer Voices New South Wales on its decade of success and I look forward to sharing its accomplishments over the next 10 years.
But any talk of the success of Cancer Voices New South Wales would not be complete without mentioning its outstanding chair and indefatigable campaigner Sally Crossing. Sally has used her own adversity to make a positive difference to the lives of people affected by cancer. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 Sally identified a lack of support for people who had been in her position. Sally had the vision, compassion and determination to address this situation and this is how the Breast Cancer Action Group was formed and how she became a leading light in Cancer Voices New South Wales. I commend Sally Crossing, Dr Yvonne McMaster and all those dedicated volunteers involved in the terrific work done by Cancer Voices New South Wales. As a community we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude, and I am delighted to lend my support to this wonderful organisation now and in the future.
