Tony Pasin (Barker, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to thank all those who assisted with the Big Aussie Barbie that I held a couple of weeks ago at my electorate office. The Big Aussie Barbie, and its campaign, is all about getting together with family, friends and workmates to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and, of course, to encourage the important discussion around prostate cancer, especially with men over the age of 50. This year marks the fifth annual Big Aussie Barbie that we have held at the office in Mount Gambier to raise money for research and, importantly, as I said, to raise awareness.

Prostate cancer is estimated to be the most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men, with 19,508 new cancers expected to be diagnosed this year alone. It's the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Australian men in 2019, with an estimated 3,300 deaths. While it's still unclear what causes prostate cancer, as with many cancers, early detection can improve the prospects of survival. Men over the age of 40 with a history in their family, and men over 50 should talk to their doctor about testing for prostate cancer as part of their annual health check.

A huge thankyou to the Limestone Coast Prostate Cancer Support Group for their help with my barbecue, as well to Mount Gambier business owners Baxter Hire, Bakers Delight and Shelton FT & Son butchers for their generous donations—and thank you to all who contributed and donated either online or in person.

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