Today, our petition was tabled in Federal Parliament. We sincerely thank Senator Anne Ruston and her team for helping bring this issue before the nation’s leaders.
We also thank Jennifer Bechwati and 7NEWS for continuing to shine a national light on this issue and the devastating human cost of delay.
To every person who has signed, shared and stood with us — thank you. You have helped force this issue into the spotlight. The petition is now sitting at around 27,900 signatures.
But let’s be clear: tabling a petition is the first step. What we need next is Action from the Government both Federal AND State.
Today’s 7NEWS coverage highlighted the story of two-year-old Layla, whose family says doctors supported overseas proton therapy, but federal funding for travel was refused due to poor prognosis.
That is devastating.
It is also unacceptable.
No child's access to potentially lifesaving treatment should depend on whether they are well enough to survive an international flight or depend on what the statistics say their chance of survival is.
If proton therapy were available here in Australia, families like Layla’s would not be forced into this impossible position. They could pursue treatment closer to home, with less trauma, less delay, and less burden during the fight of their lives.
After years of delay, Australia still does not have an operational proton therapy centre, and families are still travelling overseas or missing out entirely. 7NEWS has repeatedly reported on Australian families being forced overseas while the Adelaide facility remains unavailable.
That is not good enough.
That is not compassionate.
And that is not leadership.
Now is not the time to stop. Now is the time to get louder.
Louder until decision-makers stop passing this issue around.
Louder until governments stop hiding behind process.
Louder until a real decision is made.
Louder until Australian families can access proton therapy on Australian soil.
Please keep signing.
Please keep sharing.
Please keep pushing.
Because families like Layla’s cannot wait.