Catryna Bilyk (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I ask that the name of Senator Griff be added as a sponsor of general business notice of motion No. 1110. I, and also on behalf of Senator Griff, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) cancers with low survival rates (LSR cancers) make up around 20 per cent of the incidence of all cancers in Australia, yet account for around 50 per cent of cancer deaths,

  (ii) on 28 November 2017, the Select Committee into Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates tabled its report, and made 25 recommendations for improving the survival rates of LSR cancers,

  (iii) in accordance with the three-month deadline for government responses to committee reports, the Government's response to this select committee report is almost eight months overdue, and

  (iv) patients with LSR cancers, their families and carers are desperate for some hope that serious action will be taken to improve their chances of survival; and

(b) demands that the Government table its well-overdue response to the report of the Select Committee into Funding for Research into Cancers with Low Survival Rates.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is currently working with a range of stakeholders and expects to table a response by the end of the month. Consideration of the recommendations has not stopped the government from investing in research for these types of cancers. Minister Hunt recently announced $10 million to support six clinical trials for cancers and disease that have a low survival rate.

Question agreed to.