A delegation from Polio Australia visited Parliament House on 24 June to discuss funding for establishment and operations of this national body. Lobbying for Polio Australia is currently being done voluntarily by a sub-committee made up of representatives from the State Polio Networks Management Committee.

Following the June trip, Catherine King, Member for Ballarat, prepared a Private Members Motion which was read out in the House of Representatives on Monday 17th August. Ms King moved -

“That the House recognises that:
1) polio survivors continue to be the single largest disability group in Australia today, numbering in the tens of thousands;

2) this number not only includes those who contracted polio in Australia during the epidemics last century, but also young polio survivors who have migrated from countries where polio is still prevalent or only recently eradicated;

3) the needs of polio survivors have been largely neglected since vaccination against the disease became a reality, and as they age with chronic disabilities this neglect must be addressed as a matter of urgency;

4) over the last 20 years much attention has been drawn to the development of new, previously unrecognised, symptoms which occur in people who were thought to have reached a stable level of recovery after the acute disease;

5) symptoms of the late effects of polio include unaccustomed fatigue unrelated to activity, decreased strength and endurance, pain in muscles and/or joints, an inability to stay alert, weakness and muscle atrophy, muscle and joint pain, muscle spasms and twitching, respiratory and sleep problems, swallowing and speaking difficulties, depression and anxiety.

6) over the last 20 years polio survivors have established state based post polio organisations to provide information and support for fellow survivors, and that these networks are run by polio volunteers who themselves are experiencing increased disability and decreased mobility; and

7) in the coming years it is increasingly inevitable that many state networks will cease to function as volunteers find themselves unable to continue the service, thereby creating the necessity for a central body, Polio Australia, to take over responsibility for state functions.”

This Motion was also supported by Darren Chester, Member for Gippsland (Vic), Jill Hall, Member for Shortland (NSW), and Mark Coulton, Member for Parkes (NSW).

A follow-up visit to Canberra is scheduled for 24 November. In the meantime, the Polio Australia committee members are encouraging any members who have the ear of, or is willing to approach, their local MP (particularly Federal) to contact them and ask if they are willing to meet with the Polio Australia delegation on the 24th November. Of course, to put this into perspective, the MP will want to know what all this means for you, their constituent, so you should be prepared to tell your story.

To find out what you can do to, contact Mary-ann on Ph: (03) 9418 0411 / Email: polio@independenceaustralia.com in Victoria, or the Polio Network Co-ordinator in your state.