24 November 2022

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler have joined Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia to announce an overhaul of Australia’s Clinical Guidelines for PSA Testing.

The announcement was made at Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s annual Parliamentary Big Aussie Barbie in Canberra today.

Experts have called for new guidelines to improve early detection of the disease.

Quotes attributable to the Health Minister:

“Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in this country, and the Albanese Government is committed to taking action to improve earlier detection and treatment of the disease.

“We are very serious about delivering on our election commitments to improve health outcomes for Australian men and families.

“More than 24,000 Australian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and more than 3,500 will die from the disease.

“As Health Minister, I am determined to increase earlier detection of prostate cancer so that we can reduce avoidable deaths from the disease and manage the country’s leading cause of cancer more effectively.”

Quotes attributable to PCFA Chairman Adjunct A/Professor Steve Callister:

“Australia has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world, with one in every five Australian men likely to be diagnosed by age 85.

“We commend the Government’s support for our review of the 2016 guidelines and we look forward to commencing this work immediately.

“If we can diagnose all men at the earliest stage and ensure they have access to new medicines and care, we can beat this disease.”

ENDS. Please click here to download the media release with more detailed data.

Media contact:

Laura McKoy | M.0435 094 788