Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sadly, heart disease affects some 1.2 million Australians. Indeed, there are twice as many deaths from heart disease each year as the next two most significant causes: dementia, which with an ageing population is sadly on the increase, and cerebrovascular disease. Indeed, heart disease deaths are three times greater than the next major cause which is tracheobronchial and lung cancers.

Heart disease is also the biggest killer of women in Australia. Three times as many women die of heart disease each year compared to breast cancer. There are very many campaigns—proper, appropriate campaigns—about raising awareness of breast cancer, and yet heart disease kills three times as many and has a significant impact on the lives of so many people. Indeed, it takes the lives of 24 Australian women each and every day of the year. So it's important that women, in particular, are aware of this significant disease, this hidden killer, and have regular medical check-ups—particularly postmenopausal women, because that's the time when the hidden nature of heart disease has an impact as far as women are concerned. By making what is invisible visible, we can help many people. (Time expired)