Dr Anne Webster MP, the Shadow Minister for Regional Health says the Coalition is demanding answers from the Albanese Government after Labor cut funding for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia’s specialist prostate cancer nursing program.
The Government recently announced $46.5 million over five years to fund prostate cancer nursing positions through the McGrath Foundation from 1 July 2027 instead of the PCFA (who have been de-funded as a result). Labor claims the change forms part of an expanded ‘all-cancer’ model of care that would still support men with prostate cancer.
Dr Webster said the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), clinicians, patients and community advocates have raised serious concerns about the future of specialist prostate cancer nursing services.
“Every Australian would support additional investment in cancer care nursing. Does Labor’s announcement genuinely expand services or sacrifice an existing specialist model for something else,” Dr Webster said.
“Men diagnosed with prostate cancer, particularly those in rural and regional communities, deserve certainty. They deserve to know whether their specialist support will continue.”
The PCFA warns that many experienced practitioners will leave practice rather than move into a less specialised model.
PCFA specialist nurses provide almost 150,000 consultations annually and support more than 22,000 new patients each year. The PCFA say over 300,000 Australian men are alive today after a prostate cancer diagnosis, with an estimated 29,000 more likely to be diagnosed this reporting year.
The Commonwealth currently funds 96 of PCFA’s specialist nursing practitioners within a total program of 131 such practitioners.
The Prostate Cancer Specialist Nursing Program has long been a bipartisan initiative, established as a pilot in May 2012 building on the charitable work of the PCFA and Movember Foundation, with:
- $7 million in the former Labor Government’s final 2013/4 Budget, then
- under the former Coalition Government further injections of $6 million in 2017 and a $17 million in 2019, and then
- a further $35.4 million over four years to 2026/7 under the current Labor Government
PCFA Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses work alongside urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, GPs and multidisciplinary teams across Australia. They provide specialist support from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, advanced disease and end-of-life care.
Independent, peer-reviewed analysis of the program shows a $1.65 social return on investment for every $1 spent, including through reduced emergency presentations and hospitalisations.
Dr Webster said the Coalition is not questioning the important work of the McGrath Foundation.
“This is not a contest between two respected organisations. Both do excellent work,” Dr Webster said.
“The issue is whether Labor is dismantling more than a decade of developed specialist expertise without proper consultation or clear evidence that patients will be better off.”
“The Coalition will be raising this matter in the Parliament and through Senate Estimates in the coming sitting weeks.”
“The Government should release the advice it relied upon, explain what consultation occurred with PCFA and affected nurses, and detail how patient outcomes will be protected and improve.”
“If the Government is confident this decision is best for Australian men, it should not hesitate providing evidence and answering questions.”
