Mr REPACHOLI (Hunter) (11:36):
That this House:
(1) notes that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and that prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australian men, with a profound impact on men, their partners, families and communities;
(2) recognises the vital role of general practitioners, nurses, specialists and allied health workers in early detection, treatment, recovery and survivorship, and acknowledges the important work of community organisations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and local support groups;
(3) acknowledges that men in regional and rural communities, First Nations men, and men with a family history of prostate cancer face higher risks and often greater barriers to timely screening, diagnosis and care;
(4) encourages men, particularly those aged 50 to 69, and younger men with additional risk factors, to talk with their general practitioner about prostate-specific antigen testing and individual risk, and to act early on symptoms or concerns;
(5) commends the work underway, including by the Government, to improve access to high quality diagnosis and treatment, with initiatives such as specialist nurses, mental health supports and better follow-up care; and
(6) affirms that talking about men's health saves lives and that early action gives men the best chance to live long and well.
Let's talk about an extremely important issue that is impacting men all around this country: prostate cancer.
Once upon a time, getting your prostate checked meant having a doctor get a little bit closer than what most people—definitely most men—would ever want their doctors to be. I get why some blokes may not have been lining up to have their prostate checked, even if it's something that really must be done, but it's 2025, and you no longer need a finger up the bum to get your prostate checked. With just a simple little prick on your finger, you can get all the results through a simple blood test. It's quick and easy—you get to keep your pants on!—and you can find out the important information about your prostate to save your life.
If we're not talking about prostate cancer, men will not know how big of a threat it poses to so many blokes around this amazing country and they will not know how easy it is to be able to get on top of it early and keep living a fantastic life. September gives us the perfect opportunity to bring up this very important conversation. The point of this month is to make men aware of prostate cancer, inform them of what to look out for and when to get checked and, importantly, remind them of the huge impact it can have on partners, families and mates if they do not keep on top of it.
Unfortunately, not everyone bloke has the same access to screening, diagnosis and care. Men in rural and regional areas, like mine in the Hunter; First Nations men; and men with a family history of prostate cancer often face barriers preventing them from getting checked and detecting it early. This is something we are working urgently to address. If you are a man between 50 and 69, if you are younger and have additional risk factors like a family history of prostate cancer or if you have a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, I urge you to get checked. Talk to your GP about the risks, get a simple PSA test, and act early on any concerns or symptoms.
Work is well underway to make sure that men have the best access to possible treatment. I commend what is being done by the federal government to improve access to high-quality diagnosis and treatment, with initiatives such as specialist nurses, mental health support and better follow-up care. These are things that make all the difference and often keep men alive for longer. I also want to recognise the vital role that GPs, nurses, specialists and allied health workers play in early detection, treatment, recovery and survivorship. You are doing bloody important work, and there are countless men who are still alive today because of you.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the important work of community organisations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and local support groups. Without the work you do we would not have the same level of awareness about one of our most common cancers, and without this awareness we would not be taking action to help men get on top of it.
For this year's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is fighting for zero deaths from prostate cancer. You can get involved by taking part in the Long Run, which encourages people to walk, ride or run 72km during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness and funds for the 72 Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer each day. It is an easy thing for us to do that can make a huge difference.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for men in Australia, but, if caught early, it can also be one of the most successfully treated cancers. So to the men of Australia I say don't wait until it's too late. Don't put off getting checked like you have been putting off painting the house for the last two years. Get checked and stay alive. You owe it to your family, you owe it to your mates and you owe it to yourself. This motion is about encouraging early checks, supporting health workers and making sure that no man is left behind—and no family is left behind either.
Talking about men's health saves lives, and early action gives men the best chance to live long and well. So let's use this September to have a conversation about prostate cancer, to remember there are no more fingers in the anus, no more being scared to see your doctor; it's a simple little blood test. Get out there and have a chat to your mates.
And to the amazing women in all the blokes' lives: whether you're talking to your partner, your husband, your dad, your brother or just one of your mates, have a conversation with them about how much prostate cancer matters and about how easy it is to get it checked. There are still so many men out there who don't realise how simple this is to get checked.
