Excess Mortality

TODAY THE SENATE WILL VOTE ON WHETHER WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION INTO EXCESS DEATHS OR NOT

This afternoon I will be moving a motion to refer the issue of excess mortality to the Community Affairs References Committee.

This motion follows a successful vote on February 8th 2024 where the majority of my Senate Colleagues voted with me, in support of further inquiry as to the reasons for persistent excess deaths.

Excess mortality is not just a transitory phenomenon. The most recent TGA provisional mortality statistics released last month confirm that to November 2023 there were 15,114 or 10% more deaths than the baseline average.

Significantly elevated deaths above baseline are persisting in the wake of the pandemic. The key areas of concern are dementia deaths (18.5% above baseline), diabetes deaths (20.1% above baseline), other cardiac conditions (13.1% above baseline), and respiratory diseases (13.0% above baseline).

Our fellow Australians are dying in larger numbers than the baseline average and we need to find out why.

This is my third attempt to refer the issue to committee for investigation and the fifth time I have moved a motion on the issue. I have also spoken this issue on numerous occasions in the Senate.