Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak to schedule 1 of the Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance and Other Measures) Bill 2025. I want to begin by acknowledging the work that's gone into bringing this bill before the parliament. This is an area that has been discussed, consulted on and called for over many years, and I welcome the fact that we're now delivering clear, legislated protections for Australians.

Schedule 1 bans life insurers from requesting or using a person's genetic test results when making decisions about life insurance. It replaces a voluntary industry moratorium with a clear legal rule, backed by enforcement and review. It allows insurers to continue to rely on clinically diagnosed conditions and family medical history, but draws a firm line around predictive genetic information which reflects risk rather than illness. Just as importantly, it gives people certainty that choosing to undertake genetic testing will not jeopardise their access to financial security.

This reform matters, because fear of insurance discrimination has been preventing people from accessing potentially life-saving genetic testing and participating in medical research. No-one should have to choose between protecting their health and protecting their financial future. Many of us on the crossbench have been raising this issue for some time through letters to government, questions in parliament and collaboration with health experts, researchers and consumer advocates. We've pushed for legislation because the evidence was clear a voluntary framework is not enough. This bill reflects that evidence, and it reflects the overwhelming consensus from the medical community, consumer groups and, importantly, the insurance industry itself. This is what good evidence based policymaking looks like.

Schedule 1 is a sensible, proportionate reform that strengthens privacy, supports public health and removes the barrier to early diagnosis and prevention. It shows that when parliament listens carefully, works collaboratively and follows the evidence, we can deliver reforms that make a real difference to people's lives. I commend the government for bringing this forward, and I commend schedule 1 of the bill to the House.

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