Anne Webster (Mallee, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about the opening of the Mildura Health Icon Cancer Centre, which is happening this week. The new centre is based at the Mildura Health Private Hospital and brings radiotherapy cancer treatment to Sunraysia residents. While no-one wants to be on the receiving end of a cancer diagnosis, the added burden of travelling, staying in unfamiliar environments and being separated from loved ones will now not have to be part of the journey for Sunraysia people. No longer will cancer patients need to travel to Bendigo, Ballarat, Adelaide or Melbourne to access treatment that frequently lasts 10 minutes a day every day for weeks on end.

The tragedy is that there are people in Mallee who have made the choice not to have treatment because of the travel. My father endured this as a head and neck cancer patient for weeks at a time, having to travel and remain in Melbourne for his treatment. That was incredibly difficult for him. I'm glad to see local treatment is now available for those who unfortunately need it. I am very proud to have delivered $6.5 million of coalition government funding for this project, partnering with Mildura Health Fund to ensure this wonderful outcome. I commend Mildura Health Fund and Icon for their commitment to regional health in Sunraysia.