Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Van for that question. It's an important question because, as Senator Van outlined in his preamble to the question, the benefits and opportunities that can come from scientific knowledge and people being able to have genetic risks identified are huge and are only going to continue to grow as medical diagnostics and screening tests continually improve.

There are also some risks that come with greater access to data and knowledge about an individual's health. That's why the Assistant Treasurer announced in, I think, September 2024 that we would be looking to introduce legislation as soon as possible to make sure that predictive genetic test results are not able to be used to discriminate in the provision of life insurance underwriting.

This recognises the benefits that come with health technologies. We know people have greater access to genetic testing, and it will become increasingly important as technology evolves. It's also important to provide some protection and to make sure that people will not be discriminated against on the basis of an adverse genetic test result through their life insurance. That's the work that's being done now. I'm advised that the Assistant Treasurer has been working through some of the technical detail of this work since announcing that decision in September, and soon Treasury will undertake consultation on the design of the proposed draft legislation.