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Queensland Premier Anna Bligh
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Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has taken a close interest in organ and tissue donation since the 2020 Summit and is committed to her Government doing “all it can” to see donation rates increase in her State.
“In April I established a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health, Karen Struthers, to examine an opt-out scheme and identifying other ways we could improve Queensland’s rate of donation,” Premier Bligh said in a June media statement. “I did this after the story of extraordinary Queenslander and 2020 Summit delegate Janelle Colquhoun struck me and ignited a desire to see more Queenslanders register as organ donors.”
Premier Bligh said Queensland was proud to host the 17th World Transplant Games to be staged on the Gold Coast from 22-30 August 2009.
Premier Bligh, who officially launched the Games at Parliament House in June, said these success stories were living proof of the quality of life that can be achieved through transplantation. “Almost 1,800 Australians are waiting for an organ transplant, 176 of them right here in Queensland and nationally more than one person a week dies waiting,” said Premier Bligh, who will promote the World Games at the upcoming Bridge to Brisbane fun run in September.
“With such a high success rate in this country of transplant operations, it is not good enough that we are amongst the lowest rate of donors. “And the athletes that will visit Queensland next year are perfect examples of why it’s not good enough. “Each of them are recipients of life-saving organ transplants, including heart, lung, liver, bone marrow and kidney. “The quality of life that can be achieved is an inspiration to all Queenslanders and reason enough to register as donors and importantly, to make these wishes known to loved ones.”