Labor’s pledge to tackle melanoma

Labor has pledged nearly $15 million to help tackle melanoma, which kills an Australian every six hours.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on Friday announced a $14.8 million grant over the forward estimates for Melanoma Institute Australia (MIA), to help deliver its nurses program to every jurisdiction in the country.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is caused by a person being overexposed to the sun, with Mr Albanese saying it is “unfortunately” common in Australia.

“These Australians deserve personalised support, helping them navigate the web of medical practitioners which can often be overwhelming for those who are newly diagnosed,” he said.

Australia has the highest rate of melanoma in the world, adjusted for age, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

More than 16,000 people are diagnosed with the cancer across the nation every year and it kills one Australian every six hours.

Melanoma Patients Association chief executive Victoria Beedle said that number is only expected to grow over the coming years.

“The number of melanoma survivors is set to explode over the next eight years, increasing by 83 per cent to 348,000 Australians,” she said.

Labor’s grant would help expand MIA’s nurses program beyond Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Perth and Hobart to the entire nation, while telehealth support would also be available.

Last month’s federal budget attracted criticism from melanoma health professionals, who said not enough was being done to raise awareness and treat the cancer.

“(The) federal budget was a missed opportunity for the Morrison Government to take the impact of melanoma on young Australians seriously, and invest in saving lives in the future,” MIA’s Co-Medical Director Professor Georgina Long said.

“Prevention is better than a cure, and the commitment to prevention and early detection campaigns needs to be generational.”

Similar thoughts were shared by the organisation’s other Co-Medical Director, Professor Richard Scolyer.

“We urgently need long-term government funding to reach this demographic with a modernised version of the Slip Slop Slap campaign, which is now some 30 years old,” he said.

“(The) Government has a moral obligation to afford melanoma the same importance and investment as road safety. Now is the time for action.”