On Thursday 24 June 2021 representatives from the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), the National Allergy Strategy (NAS), Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) and the Centre for Food & Allergy Research (CFAR) met with the Minister for Heath, Hon Greg Hunt MP, and other Australian Government representatives at Parliament House in Canberra.  At these meetings we discussed when the Government will respond to recommendations in the Report on the Parliamentary Inquiry into Allergies and Anaphylaxis ‘Walking the allergy tightrope - Addressing the rise of allergies and anaphylaxis in Australia’.

Whilst we understand that the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed a government response to this Report, the recommendations are becoming increasingly important and more urgent to address. Many of the issues have become worse due to the pandemic, including access to care, education and training. Addressing concerns relating to COVID-19 vaccines, allergies and anaphylaxis in are also important and ongoing issues for ASCIA and other stakeholders to address.

ASCIA welcomed the recommendations in the Report and the recognition of ASCIA’s pivotal and leading role in improving the care of Australians with allergic disease. ASCIA has thanked the Minister for Health, Hon Greg Hunt MP, the Committee Chair, Trent Zimmerman MP, Deputy Chair, Dr Mike Freelander MP, panel members including Dr Katie Allen MP, and the committee Secretariat for their excellent work in initiating and conducting the Parliamentary Inquiry.  

The Parliamentary Inquiry Report was tabled on Monday 15 June 2020 in the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia and is available here.

Allergies and Anaphylaxis affect more than 5 million Australians, their families and the community, and are recognised as bipartisan issues. For example, the Shadow Assistant Minister for Health, Ged Kearney MP made a speech about Allergy and Anaphylaxis in Parliament on 3 August 2021. The speech is available here. 

ASCIA, NAS, A&AA and CFAR look forward to addressing the recommendations in the Parliamentary Inquiry Report, which will result in significant improvements to the health of more than 5 million Australians with allergic disease, their families and the community, with immediate and long term impact.