Senate debates

Monday, 22 November 2010

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

3:46 pm

Photo of Rachel SiewertRachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Adams, move:

That the Senate—
(a)
notes that:
(i)
bowel cancer claims the lives of approximately 3 800 people every year and causes more cancer deaths in Australia that any other form of the disease except lung cancer,
(ii)
as a result of the launch of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program in 2006, more than 1.6 million people have been invited to participate in the program and screen for bowel cancer but approximately 5 million at risk Australians are currently missing out on this vital program,
(iii)
early screening for bowel cancer has the potential to prevent as many as 2 000 deaths every year, and
(iv)
the current program ends in December 2010; and
(b)
calls on the Government to:
(i)
commit to maintaining the current funding for the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program for at least 2 years while an implementation plan is put in place for a comprehensive bowel screening program, and
(ii)
develop an implementation plan for a comprehensive bowel screening process that includes people aged 60 and 70 and follow-up tests.

Question agreed to.