Chris Bowen (McMahon, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In November last year the Minister for Health promised Australia's type 1 diabetics that he would list flash glucose monitors on the National Diabetes Services Scheme on 1 March this year. His language was clear and it was undeniable. This was welcomed by Australia's type 1 diabetics because it would make the flash monitor affordable. Minister Hunt has reneged on his promise. He has not listed the flash glucose monitor and he's denying Australia's diabetics the choice they deserve. This isn't fair to Australians like Molly Lucas, a 10-year-old whom I met a few weeks ago, who is forced to use the old finger-prick technology when she would much rather use the flash monitor. That's why over 200,000 people have signed this petition to Minister Hunt to ask him to list the flash glucose monitor on the National Diabetes Services Scheme. This petition to Mr Hunt has been signed by 214,910 people.

The Prime Minister could instruct the Minister for Health to list the flash monitor as he promised to do. Why won't the government keep their commitments to Australia's diabetics and list the flash monitor on the national diabetes scheme? Why did this government mislead Australia's type 1 diabetics? Why won't this government give Australia's type 1 diabetics the choice they deserve? Two hundred and fourteen thousand people say this Minister for Health has not done well enough— (Time expired)

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's an issue. I'm sorry; the member for McMahon's time had expired and he hadn't actually sought to table the petition. We'll take it anyway. Just in case he's considering doing that again, he might want to table it at the start of his speech. The document will be forwarded to the Petitions Committee for its consideration and will be accepted subject to confirmation by the committee that it conforms with the standing orders.