State Leader of the KAP and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter, has invited the State’s political leaders to stand together with him for a special press conference to raise awareness around organ and tissue donation.

“I’ve written to the Premier, Leader of the Opposition and crossbenchers to invite them to join me for a press conference to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation.

“Some issues are bigger than politics and I want to get the message out far and wide that people should have a “donation conversation” with their families and make their wishes known.

“If the Premier, Deb Frecklington, One Nation and the Greens representative all stand with me for a “Donation Conversation” we’ll get the message out.” Robbie said.

Robbie says raising awareness is one of the best ways of improving donation rates.

“Fortunately organ donation isn’t something most of us have to think about but, that means our family may not know if we want to be a donor or if we’re on the Australian Organ Donor Register.

“I’m hoping that the media will really get behind this and push the other leaders to get involved.

“By coming together to do a joint press conference we can amplify the attention to the importance of having a donation conversation.”  

Robbie says he’s hopeful the other political leaders will stand with him to show the people of Queensland that they can cooperate for a very worthy cause.

“The outcome here is very simple, raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, and if we can’t work together to achieve that then people are totally justified in their criticism of politicians.” He said.

According to the Australian Organ and Tissue Authority the national average for donation consent is about 60% however consent rates increase to 88% when the loved one is a registered donor.

Robbie has sent a formal invitation to the Premier, Deb Frecklington, Steve Andrew from One Nation, and Michael Berkman from the Greens as well as the Independent Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton.

If the other political leaders agree, a joint press conference will be held during the next normal parliamentary sitting week in August.