Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Is that Senator Gallagher or Senator McCarthy?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's Senator McCarthy.

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. At a recent community visit and public hearing, the PFAS select committee heard about the devastating impacts of PFAS chemicals on health, country and the loss of culture. Wreck Bay, a First Nations community on the New South Wales South Coast, is experiencing a cancer cluster, and people are dying prematurely at the highest rates in this country. They have no routine health or cancer screening, and they are still drinking PFAS contaminated water. The government has provided absolutely no health support to the community so far. Will you commit to providing regular, free health checks, including cancer screening, for the Wreck Bay community?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

McCARTHY (—) (): I thank Senator Thorpe for the question and for the work that she is doing in terms of the Senate inquiry. I am advised that these latest reports that we are seeing are certainly very concerning, not just with Wreck Bay—where the inquiry has gone—but also in places like where I reside, up in the Northern Territory.

Can I just say, Senator Thorpe, in terms of the minister for health, that the NHMRC is currently conducting an independent review of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and, at the government's request, the NHMRC has agreed to expedite the review and will finalise it early this year. A Senate select committee, as you've already identified, is already out there. Australian drinking water is regularly monitored for the presence of chemicals, including PFAS, to ensure those are within the limits assessed as safe by Australian regulators.

I'm also advised that the NHMRC is currently conducting that review. The independent review will consider recent guidance and reviews from international and national jurisdictions and will determine whether they are suitable to adopt or adapt for Australia.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, first supplementary?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I visited this community and met a 12-year-old who had half her breast cut off. My question is: will you provide cancer screening for the Wreck Bay community before any more children die from cancer relating to PFAS?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

McCARTHY (—) (): I can certainly say that, in terms of cancer care more broadly across Australia and in particular for First Nations Australians, we do have a very strong cancer care program. So, for those families in Wreck Bay, they are very much able to access—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, please resume your seat. Senator Thorpe, on a point of order?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Relevance: will the Wreck Bay community have cancer screening before any more people die?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is being relevant to your question, and I invite her to continue.

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, I realise you are speaking specifically about individual cases, but I will say to all Australians and First Nations people that there is a very strong cancer support program, especially through First Nations, and I am more than happy to provide that information to your office. It doesn't matter whether it's Wreck Bay or anywhere else; for any First Nations person who is suffering from cancer, we have invested a significant amount. I am more than happy to provide that information.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Thorpe, second supplementary?

Lidia Thorpe (Victoria, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Disappointing. Will your government commit to providing at least free PFAS blood testing to only the Wreck Bay community?

Malarndirri McCarthy (NT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Indigenous Australians) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised that the Department of Health and Aged Care does not recommend blood testing. This is because results cannot be used to determine whether any medical condition is attributable to exposure to PFAS, in terms of Defence offering blood testing for communities impacted by PFAS.