Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator McAllister. Yesterday, I tabled a petition signed by more than 27,000 people calling on the government to honour its bipartisan commitment to establish proton beam therapy in Australia. Proton beam therapy is a life-saving cancer treatment. Yet, right now, Australians, including children and their families, are being forced to travel overseas to access the treatment or go without it altogether. Despite this, the government's response to the tabling of the petition was to simply say that it is waiting for the states to come back with a plan. Minister, can you explain why the Albanese government is simply waiting for the states to have a plan instead of leading the charge to ensure this life-saving treatment is available to Australians as promised?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am pleased to hear from Senator Ruston this week. I think it's probably the last coalition question for the week, and Senator Ruston has finally been allocated one. I am pleased that a question about health and—

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order across the chamber! I need to be able to hear the minister.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is indeed a significant issue, and I recognise the impact that the delay in establishing proton beam therapy in Australia is having on patients. I think you will know, Senator Ruston, that, in 2017, the former Commonwealth government—I think that you were a part of that government—announced $68 million to support the establishment of Australia's first proton beam therapy at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in Adelaide. That funding was provided to the South Australian government under a federation funding agreement schedule. They, in turn, passed on the funds to the institute.

The Australian government isn't party to a contract or agreement for the specific project, and there have been delays in the project. The Commonwealth is working closely with the South Australian government around the future of the project. That includes the recent work that's been undertaken by the South Australian government to explore alternative technology suppliers. Patients who do wish to access proton beam therapy in the meantime can make an application through the Medical Treatment Overseas Program.

I conclude my answer by simply saying that we do recognise that this is an important therapy and we do also recognise the consequences that the delay in the project in South Australia is having for patients.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, first supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Two-year-old Layla Davis needed proton therapy, but the Albanese government declined her family's request for support to travel overseas for treatment. Her family has been left devastated because they simply can't afford the high cost to fund the travel and treatment themselves. Minister, how many Australian children have been refused support by your government to access proton therapy overseas?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Ruston. I don't have that information with me; I'm not briefed on that. If I have information I can provide to you, I will.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, second supplementary?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, cancer patients, particularly young children, do not have the luxury of waiting. The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research was built in Adelaide specifically to deliver this treatment, yet it currently sits empty of the technology it was designed to house. When does the Albanese government expect to receive a plan from the South Australian Malinauskas government to deliver proton therapy at the Bragg Centre? It seems to me that they've had plenty of time to get one.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I think Minister Butler has made clear that, given the level of capital—physical capital and human capital, as you refer to—that has been sunk in South Australia, it has been important to give South Australia the opportunity to demonstrate if they have a viable alternative to the original contract. But, as Minister Butler has made clear, at some point the Commonwealth will ask other jurisdictions whether they have a proposal. What is clear is that, wherever the proton therapy is located, it will be a national ability, and the very clear advice at the minister has received from Cancer Australia is that the demand projections over the next several years will require one unit across the country. Whether that is in Adelaide or Sydney or somewhere else, patients, particularly paediatric patients—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

you may wish to listen—with cancer from the entire country will fly to receive the treatment. (Time expired)