Thursday, 16 October 2025

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (17:40): (2016) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health, and the action that I am seeking is an investigation into the recent cancellation of the Royal Children’s Hospital grand round that was to explore the impacts of war on children. Numerous health professionals have reached out to me concerned about this cancelled grand round. Grand rounds are regular, usually lunchtime, events that hospitals hold on different themes for educational purposes. Apparently, this one was cancelled by the CEO on the request of a New South Wales-based clinician from the Alliance Against Antisemitism in Healthcare. The grand round was about the impacts of war on children in a general sense, but it was likely that the genocide in Gaza would feature, given that Gaza has been identified by international aid organisations as the most dangerous place in the world for children. More children have been killed in the past three years than in any other conflict this century, and it is the home to the highest number of child amputees anywhere in the world.

War has a profound impact on children. Not only is there the direct physical impact of weapons which cause death and injury, there is also the impact of disease and malnutrition and the mental and psychological harm that occurs as a result of this. Many migrants, refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Australia have come from war zones, including children, and understanding war’s complex effects is critical for health professionals who work with them. Further, many Australian health professionals will go to war zones to provide humanitarian medical assistance.

As difficult as this subject is, for these reasons alone a grand round at the Royal Children’s Hospital focusing on the impacts of war on children is incredibly important. But such an event is also consistent with foundational medical ethics. Health professionals are key voices in shedding light on what is occurring on the ground in conflicts, including in Gaza. Medical practitioners have an ethical obligation to ensure that they provide impartial care to everyone who needs it, regardless of their political or national affiliations. In bearing witness to atrocities, they have an ethical duty to speak up about violations of humanitarian law and to use their positions to advocate for peace and the prevention of war-related harm. Silencing discussion on these important issues directly contravenes these ethical obligations. It is not antisemitic to highlight the health impacts of war on children, including Palestinian children. It is not antisemitic to call for an end to war to prevent further harm to children. I fully support the healthcare workers who are calling for this grand round to be reinstated, and I would urge the minister to intervene.