Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Health and Ageing, on indulgence.

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to make a very brief statement about it being Pink Ribbon Day today. I would like to make that statement on behalf of the government but I imagine on behalf of the whole House, that we would encourage the efforts of fundraising organisations which are fighting to find a cure for cancer. Breast cancer alone affects 12,000 women every year and this year will be no different: 12,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The work of the Cancer Council, the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Breast Cancer Network and many others helps us raise money to fight this very serious disease. I want to encourage all Australians to get behind this and other worthy causes to reduce the burden of such cancers and diseases. Many members are wearing the pink ribbon today. Everyone who does so is raising funds for this vital cause.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Dickson, on indulgence.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I join with the health minister and associate the opposition with those remarks. Some $5 million will be raised right around the country, which is an incredible effort. All of us in one way or another have been impacted by somebody that we know that has breast cancer, and it is a huge problem in Indigenous communities as well, particularly in terms of diagnosis, and that is something that we need to improve on as a country. I would also like to say to all those people around the country who are fundraising, putting events together, that it is a very worthy cause. To all of the officials who are involved in the coordination of the fundraising efforts, it is a great credit to you. A bright note is that the treatment is much improved in recent years and the survival rates post-diagnosis have improved. That is a great credit to our country but with so much more work to be done.