Today's announcement by the Albanese Labor Government to establish Genomics Australia within the Department of Health instead of as a standalone agency is a broken promise.
Breaking this promise is a slap in the face for the future of innovative healthcare in Australia and the patients who depend on it.
The Coalition has consistently advanced Australians' access to the latest health technologies and treatments.
Under Peter Dutton as Health Minister, the Coalition established the $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund to invest in life-saving Australian research.
On top of this historic investment, we proudly committed $28 million to establish Genomics Australia, focused on integrating genomic medicine into Australia's healthcare system.
Instead, this Government has internalised Genomics Australia with no plan on how it will deliver the outcomes originally promised.
Genomic medicine leverages genetic information for better prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of illnesses, with the potential to revolutionise healthcare.
Put simply, if you have a genetic disease, cancer or illness, genomic testing ensures that the medicine or treatment you receive is the most effective and targeted it can be.
This time last year, the Minister said there was work underway to "progress towards the establishment of Genomics Australia", yet it appears that this was nothing more than progress towards a broken promise.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that the plan to establish Geonomics Australia as a standalone agency was aimed at ensuring Australians could access the right treatments faster.
“This Government is seriously all talk no action when it comes to ensuring Australian patients have access to potentially life-saving new health innovations,” Senator Ruston said.
“This announcement comes at a time when the Government has implemented a cap on the number of new medicines and treatments that can be assessed for listing on the PBS.
“This Government’s broken promises in the health portfolio are piling up.
“Labor promised to strengthen Medicare, but bulk billing has dropped 11% under the Albanese Government and Australians are covering 45% more of the cost to see a doctor.
“They have also cut access to Medicare-subsidised mental health support, ripping away essential treatment from at least 170,000 Australians.
It has never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor under the Albanese Government, and now they have broken a key commitment focused on Australians getting the right treatment, at the right time.
ENDS
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