I rise today to acknowledge an important date, which is near and dear to all our hearts: Cancer Council Australia’s annual Daffodil Day, to be held tomorrow, Friday, 22 August.
The impact of cancer within our society can only be described as widespread. Cancer does not discriminate by age, gender or even general health and wellbeing.
Today, for example, 350 Australians will be diagnosed with a life-threatening form of cancer, and another 115 Australians will, sadly, lose their battle with cancer.
It is for these reasons that Daffodil Day and the good work of the cancer council are looked upon with much affection and appreciation by all of us.
The cancer council is responsible for a range of initiatives, including patient support groups, detection and prevention programs, and the dissemination of important information to patients, doctors, and healthcare providers.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in this country, and with an ageing population the rate of new cancer cases is set to rise by 17 per cent by the end of the decade.
I am proud to stand in this house and say that appropriate and generous government funding of cancer services is an area of deep bipartisanship here in Victoria. Specifically, Victorian Labor holds an ongoing commitment to providing a world-leading and innovative treatment, teaching and research cancer services precinct.
As a representative of Western Victoria Region, I am particularly passionate about the provision of high-quality cancer services across our state’s regional and rural communities. I encourage all Victorians to wear a daffodil on their lapel this Friday and support the 28th annual Daffodil Day.