STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator MARIELLE SMITH (South Australia) (13:48): This week marks Kidney Action Week. Kidney disease affects some 2.7 million Australians. One in seven Australian adults is directly affected by kidney disease, and behind that figure are people whose lives are shaped by dialysis, specialist appointments and the uncertainty that comes with chronic illness.

These are families who have had to put travel plans on hold, had their careers interrupted and rebuilt their everyday routines around their treatment. Kidney disease doesn't just affect the person diagnosed; it reshapes the lives of everyone around them and everyone who loves them. I have seen firsthand the toll that chronic illness takes on the people I love.

I've seen the relentless routine of managing symptoms, physical and emotional isolation, and the difficult trade-offs between medical appointments and social connections. Living with chronic disease is about far more than managing a medical condition. It affects one's independence, relationships, employment, financial security and wellbeing.

Kidney disease is one of Australia's fastest growing chronic health conditions, with more than one million additional cases recorded over the past decade. This makes it one of Australia's fastest growing and most costly health challenges. Earlier this year, Kidney Health Australia released Kidney code red: the response, outlining a road map to improve kidney health across Australia.

The Albanese Labor government has also announced cheaper PBS medicines for around 65,000 Australians living with chronic kidney disease, meaning that these Australians will pay no more than $25 per script. These are all important changes, but there is more to do. I want to thank Kidney Health Australia for its outstanding advocacy in ensuring the voices of people living with kidney disease continue to be heard.