Unanimous Vote in Parliament to support Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
- 04-11-09

By Nicole Ballinger
“In my opinion this is one of the most important motions to be debated since my election” - Dr Andrew McDonald MP (NSW Labor Party) and paediatrician.
“Miracles do happen!” announced my MP, Shelley Hancock (NSW Liberal Party). I saw Shelley again last Sunday, when she supported a bereavement service: honouring babies who died through miscarriage, stillbirth or some time after their birth.
The ‘miracle’ was the unanimous vote in the NSW Parliament on Oct.22: calling on the government to consider declaring Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across Australia’s most populous State.
Shelley said it was the first time she’d ever seen a unanimous vote, in all her years as our MP.
She added that MPs were wiping away their tears, during the discussion.
“Often the Government or Opposition opposes a motion moved by a member on the other side of the House for no good reason other than that we are on different sides of the political fence, “ said Shelley. “However, on important issues…we come together.”
And the unanimous vote was a surprise.
Members from both parties spoke with equal passion in favour of declaring this Remembrance Day.
Dr Andrew McDonald MP spoke about this tragedy amongst his patients. Grant McBride MP spoke emotionally about the loss of his own baby 25 years ago. Grant said, “it’s such a personal thing that it never leaves you”.
Read more here – it’s fascinating!
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