Election commitments fall short to fix lack of access to public diagnostic mammography in Tasmania

Less than a week before the Tasmanian state election, Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) holds significant concerns that election promises from Liberal and Labor will not adequately address the lack of public diagnostic mammography that Tasmanian women face today.

Almost a month ago, BCNA - Australia's leading voice for Australians affected by breast cancer - released an open letter calling for urgent commitments to address the problem.

The letter called on all candidates contesting the 2024 state election to commit to short and long-term solutions so that women who present to their GP with symptoms of breast cancer are able to have a timely diagnostic mammogram without incurring out of pocket costs or having to travel interstate.

Australia’s Optimal Care pathway for Breast Cancer states that diagnostic tests should be completed within two weeks of presenting to a GP.

BCNA Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services Vicki Durston any delay to a breast cancer diagnosis risks the breast cancer progressing - or even metastasising.

"Access to this service in the public system is a basic health care right - because breast cancer does not wait," she said.

BCNA also travelled to Hobart the same week to meet with politicians on all sides to voice its concerns.

While welcoming the recent commitments from both parties, Ms Durston said BCNA has written again this week to both Liberal and Labor with concerns that their election commitments fall short.

BCNA‘s concerns relating to the Liberal Party’s commitment include that the $3.2 million allocated to the ongoing operational costs of the service is far from sufficient.

We are also yet to see any short-term solutions including emergency travel subsidies and looking to remote workforce.

BCNA ‘s concerns relating to the Labor Party’s commitment that includes emergency travel subsidies and public private partnerships have no funding commitment attached to them.

There was also no commitment to the longer term need for ongoing operational costs of the service.

"For six years we have been highlighting the significant and consequential delays in diagnosing symptomatic women with breast cancer due to the lack of a public imaging services across the state. It is time for stronger leadership on this issue," Ms Durston said.

"BCNA is ready and willing to work with the incoming government on restoring these basic health care rights for Tasmanian women."

Read the Open Letter

Media enquiries:
Anna Malbon 
Communications Specialist
03 9805 2540
media@bcna.org.au