He had had a very busy weekend. He was actively involved in saving the life of a child that was born 13 weeks premature. It was particularly difficult because, due to the inclement weather, the aerial retrieval services that normally provide backup could not go to Dubbo.. Dr Arumugam had a very torrid time saving that child. Also, on the weekend he dealt with a young child that had been diagnosed as having leukaemia.

After a busy week of shifts at Dubbo Base Hospital he was heading home to his wife who lives in Western Sydney when he was, unfortunately, killed in a car accident. I would like to place on record ... Read Morehere my condolences to Reuben’s family, to his colleagues at Dubbo Base Hospital—I know they are mourning at the moment— and to his mother and father, who at the moment are working through Immigration to try and get temporary visas to be here for his funeral. We are having a few problems with that but I am assured that Senator Evans’s office is working very hard to overcome them.In closing, I would like to acknowledge the contribution that Dr Arumugam made to the people of western New South Wales.

I would like to acknowledge my sadness for his wife and his parents, and his brother who lives, I think, in America. His death highlights the dedication and the extreme pressure that people who work in health in western New South Wales are under. I know he will be sadly missed.

Mr BUTLER (Port Adelaide—Parliamentary Secretary for Health) (11.42 am)

On indulgence, I would like to joint the previous member in expressing the government’s condolences to the family of the doctor that he spoke of. We know that medical professionals all around the country do extraordinary work and often work very long hours, drive long distances and put themselves in danger in helping others maintain their health and wellbeing.