Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. I know that it is a very important question. BreastScreen Australia is one of the best breast cancer screening programs in the world. Since 1991 the Commonwealth has been working with the states and territories to provide free biennial mammograms to women aged between 50 and 69 years, with women aged from 40 to 49 years and 70 years and over also being eligible to attend.

The important study led by Dr Helen Zorbas, from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, which we have recently seen in the media demonstrates the effectiveness and value of BreastScreen Australia. The report that Dr Zorbas brought forward found that the program was well accepted by women, more broadly accessible and cost effective. It found that participation in the program by women in the target group had increased from 51.4 per cent in 1996-97 to 56.2 per cent in 2004. The program has reduced the mortality rate in the key 50 to 69 years of age target group.

The report highlights areas where the program can be improved, particularly in increasing the participation of Indigenous women and workforce shortages. The Rudd government moved to address some of the capacity issues with an investment of $120 million in this year’s budget. We have provided significant funding to replace BreastScreen Australia’s outdated equipment with state-of-the-art digital mammogram equipment. In providing that $120 million we are providing assistance for this. (Time expired)