David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

A couple months ago, I came into this place to share the story of a young Canberran named Heidi who tragically passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of just 35. Ovarian cancer and, indeed, all gynaecological cancers, have very low survival rates. It's around 49 per cent for ovarian cancer, and it hasn't moved much in decades. Nineteen women will be diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer every day in Australia—today, tomorrow and the day after that. We have not made the investments in research or supportive programs that we need to for these women like Heidi, for their families and for the broader community.

This year, the sector came together in a proposal to turn this around. It's a mere $70 million to accelerate research, to find the next early diagnostic test to actually catch these cancers earlier and to ensure that no woman goes through gynaecological cancer without support. Last night, although there were high hopes, it was not included in the budget, and I share the disappointment of the sector that this package was not funded. Yes, there is more funding in the Medical Research Future Fund. I welcome that decision, but we don't know whether any of that will flow to gynaecological cancer research. Just two days of a gas export tax in this country would more than fund game-changing research for gynaecological cancers.

I want to end with a quote from Belinda Barnier: 'Our hope is that women's lives will be valued through meaningful investment and research, particularly into the early detection of ovarian cancer, so women are not continuing to die at the current rate of 51 per cent. Australian women and families deserve better outcomes, greater hope and urgent national leadership.'