Andrew Willcox (Dawson, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today as Co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness group, alongside the member for Hunter. I thank the member the Hunter, the government Special Envoy for Men's Health, the honourable Dan Repacholi MP, for bringing forward this important motion.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and a vital opportunity for us to draw attention to the realities of this disease. Prostate cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer in Australia. It's not just a statistic; it's fathers, brothers, colleagues, friends and communities that are affected each and every day.

Let me offer some context. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, some 26,000 Australian men are newly diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, surpassing even breast cancer cases. To break that down, that's roughly 72 men diagnosed each day and about 4,000 deaths annually. Lifetime risk is profound: one in five Australian men will be diagnosed by the age of 85.

Despite these sobering facts, there's hope thanks to early detection and better treatment. The five-year relative survival rate is now 96 per cent, and 91 per cent of men survive their diagnosis for at least 10 years. Going back to 1982, the five-year relative survival rate was only 60 per cent. These numbers underscore both the urgency and the opportunity before us, highlighting the fact that early diagnosis saves lives. In fact, much of our progress over recent decades has been thanks to the update of the PSA testing and the advent of new imaging technologies that enable more accurate diagnosis, including MRI, PSMA, and PET and CT scans.

Yet, not all Australians benefit equally. As the member for Hunter correctly stated, men in rural and regional communities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and men with a family history of disease face a higher risks and significant barriers to timely screening, diagnosis and care, whether due to geography, access constraints or awareness gaps. Studies of PSA testing patterns across the country reveal rural and remote areas report lower screening rates. This highlights the disparity we must address. That's why the motion rightly emphasises support for all men, regardless of their location or their background.

Here's where our community leadership shines. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, PCFA, founded in 1996, stands at the forefront of research, awareness, support, education and advocacy. It collaborates across sectors to reduce the impact of prostate cancer on men, their partners and their families. Over the last two years, PCFA has been working with experts around the country to develop new clinical guidelines for early detection of prostate cancer, ensuring clinicians are armed with evidence in the fight against diagnosis and certain death. In fact, the new draft guidelines could see a global standard in early detection, positioning Australia to lead the world in eliminating avoidable deaths. Meanwhile, inspiring stories, including individuals who have championed awareness in their communities, are powerful. As one member of our community put it, 'I urge men to be invested and get tested, knowing that early detection saves lives.'

The high-profile case of the Brisbane city councillor Ryan Murphy, diagnosed earlier this year at age 36, is a call to arms for men, underscoring the fact that this disease can strike younger men, backing up community calls for risk based national screening levels. I ask myself what we can do as parliamentarians and as a nation to encourage men over 50 and especially those with family histories to consult their GPs about their individual risk and the option of PSA testing. Each year, thousands of Australian men receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. Many go on to live long, fulfilling lives—but only because they are diagnosed early and supported well. Talking about men's health should never feel taboo. Promotion of proactive, evidence informed action is also empowering us. I recommend this motion to the House and encourage all members to support it. Let's work towards the goal of zero deaths from prostate cancer.

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