Ms Wilson said "the establishment of the National Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority to coordinate activity and implement program reforms in the future will provide far better outcomes for individuals and the community.

"The more people who donate their kidneys the shorter the waiting time will be for the 1298 people currently waiting for a kidney transplant

"Kidneys account for 50% of all organ transplants in Australia. The wait for a kidney transplant on average is four to five years."

Ms Wilson said that patients on dialysis and their families are under great pressure waiting for the telephone call which could spell a new chance at life through a kidney transplant

Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia said there is no cure for kidney disease with dialysis and transplant the only options once the patient's kidneys fail.

"Chronic Kidney Disease is a disease which not only impacts on older patients. In 2007 33% of all new patients suffering kidney failure were under the age of 55.

"Kidney transplantation is successful in 90% of cases and Australia has one of the best success rates of kidney transplant survival in the world."

Dr Mathew said at present there are approximately 10,000 Australians being kept alive by dialysis, costing $83,000 each annually, with the dialysis bill growing by $1 million a week.