The Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS Group provides a non-partisan forum for parliamentarians to meet and interact with the ME/CFS and long COVID community, and those living with related energy-related conditions, research bodies and health professionals. It will inform government policy and the investment needed to improve health and social care. The Group will raise awareness of ME/CFS which affects over 250,000 Australians, 75 percent of which are women and around 25 percent who are housebound or bedbound.
Parliamentary Friends groups are a unique feature of the Australian Parliament. They serve as informal, cross-party groups that provide a platform for parliamentarians to engage with specific sectors, causes, or communities, facilitating greater communication and advocacy outcomes. What makes Parliamentary Friends groups particularly effective is their ability to provide a consistent forum for discussion and action on strategic issues.
Parliamentary Members
Meet the parliamentary members of the Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS Group.
Co-chairs ME/CFS Parliamentary Friends
Dr Mike Freelander MP, Australian Labor Party, Macarthur, New South Wales
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Australian Greens, Western Australia
Parliamentary Members
Mr Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent, Clark, Tasmania
Ms Angie Bell MP, Liberal National Party of Queensland, Moncrieff, Queensland
Dr Carina Garland MP, Australian Labor Party, Chisholm, Victoria
Ms Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP, Australian Greens, Ryan, Queensland
Mrs Fiona Phillips MP, Australian Labor Party, Gilmore, New South Wales
Hon Ged Kearney MP, Australian Labor Party, Cooper, Victoria
Dr Helen Haines MP, Independent, Indi, Victoria
Senator Helen Polley, Australian Labor Party, Tasmania
Mr Josh Burns MP, Australian Labor Party, Macnamara, Victoria
Senator Lisa Darmanin, Australian Labor Party, Victoria
Ms Louise Miller-Frost MP, Australian Labor Party, Boothby, South Australia
Ms Mary Doyle MP, Australian Labor Party, Aston, Victoria
Dr Monique Ryan MP, Independent, Kooyong, Victoria
Hon Peter Khalil MP, Australian Labor Party, Wills, Victoria
Mr Sam Birrell MP, The Nationals, Nicholls, Victoria
Ms Sarah Witty MP, Australian Labor Party, Melbourne, Victoria
Senator Steph Hodgins-May, Australian Greens, Victoria
Hon Tim Wilson MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Goldstein, Victoria
