Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, spoke in Parliament, on October 18, in response to the report of the Inquiry into Bio-Toxin Related Illnesses (CIRS), released by the Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport.
“From this Inquiry, we have seen an important outcome for people struggling with mould-related illness or living in water-damaged buildings,” Wicks said.
“The recommendations from the Inquiry Report focused around supporting medical professionals to identify, diagnose, and treat bio-toxin related illnesses, as well as investing in more research into CIRS and the effect of mould on human health. “This included the need to develop clinical guidelines for general practitioners, for those suffering from CIRS-like illness,” Wicks said. Wicks was instrumental in this Inquiry as she has been suffering from a bio-toxin related illness since April, 2015.
The Federal Government is being urged to carefully consider all seven recommendations of the Report and the signifi cant impact that they could have to help those suffering from such illnesses. On the issue of water-damaged buildings, the Report recommended that the Federal Government work with the states and territories to develop standards and guidelines for mould testing and remediation, and to conduct an investigation into current building codes around mould. Other recommendations were made in relation to rental properties, aged care facilities and social housing.
“With the adoption of some of these recommendations, we could see a more a widespread knowledge of bio-toxin related illness, standards of practice around mould in building codes and better health outcomes, both in diagnosis and treatment, for people with CIRS-like symptoms,” Wicks said. “This report validates the experiences of the hundreds of people that have contacted me with their stories and suffering with a bio-toxin related illness.
“It lets people who are suffering with this particular condition know that their voice is being heard,” Wicks said. Throughout the Inquiry, the Committee received 142 submissions and 39 exhibits, and heard from countless professionals at public hearings.
Source: Media release, Oct 18 Charlotte Bowcock, Office of Lucy Wicks