Warren Entsch (Leichhardt, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to inform the House that tomorrow is the day that we here in Parliament House are raising awareness of prostate cancer. The day will be starting early for those who have booked to receive their prostate blood test, and from 12 pm there's a big barbecue—with over 250 persons anticipated to participate—which is now in its sixth year. I'm proud to be the co-chair, with Minister Jason Clare, of the Parliamentary Friends of Prostate Cancer Awareness, and we've been doing that for the last three terms. Without the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the London Agency and Pathology Awareness Australia, the testing and the barbecue—which allows hundreds of people to hear about prostate cancer—could not occur.

I want to give special mention to my long-term friend the Hon. Jim Lloyd, who recently departed the PCFA after three dedicated years and over 20 years as a volunteer. These events here in Parliament House were Jim's brainchild, and I sincerely thank him for his advocacy, as it has saved many lives.

Sadly, more than 3,000 Australian men continue to die of prostate cancer every year. Thank you to the previous government for their funding for research and treatments, but there's more that needs to be done. I cannot stress enough the imperative that you get tested early and get tested often. Come along tomorrow, get tested and have a snag in the courtyard.