Rex Patrick (SA, Nick Xenophon Team) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Griff, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) congratulates all the participants of the People's Choice Undies Run for Bowel Cancer held on 14 January 2018 in Adelaide, with a record 1,611 participants;

(b) notes that:

  (i) this year, the charity run raised over $145 000 for bowel cancer research and, since 2013, has raised over $865 000 for Cancer Council SA, significantly increasing the awareness of one Australia's largest cancer killers,

  (ii) bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in Australia,

  (iii) it is estimated that about 16 000 Australians will be diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, and over 4 000 will lose their lives to the disease each year,

  (iv) regular screening is important because you can have bowel cancer without any noticeable symptoms,

  (v) the average wait time for colonoscopies is up to 6 months across Australia,

  (vi) South Australia has the longest waiting times in the country for colonoscopies with some people waiting up to 12 months,

  (vii) these delays are putting patients at real risk, and

  (viii) early detection of bowel cancer is crucial to the survival rates of sufferers – if detected early, 90 per cent of bowel cancer cases can be successfully treated; and

(c) calls on the Government to work with the states to reduce the waiting times for bowel cancer screenings.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the coalition government's priorities is to build on Australia's world-leading cancer screening programs through the implementation of a bowel cancer national register that supports delivery of the best possible outcomes for all eligible Australians. The government will continue to work with all states and territories to improve patient access to much-needed services.

Question agreed to.