The Turnbull government is planning to introduce a new life-saving screening test and register for cervical cancer but this is in jeopardy because Labor and the Greens are teaming up to delay legislation for the new National Cancer Screening Register.  

This places in doubt the start of the new human papillomavirus (HPV) test, which is a more effective and convenient test for women. Women’s health is a fundamental priority of this government.  

Relevant initiatives include the National Breastfeeding Helpline, the National Maternity Services Plan, domestic violence services including tailored domestic violence services for Indigenous women, National Antenatal Care Guidelines, support for BreastScreen Australia, the National Cervical Screening Program and Healthy Ageing.

WHAT a lot of codswallop about the budget trajectory being unfair to our children and even grandchildren.  

By the time they gain some understanding  we'll be so far gone that they'll believe Greece, Spain and so on led the good life just a few years ago. They'll also believe budgets are complicated because they'll have forgotten the examples of families, rich and poor, who only had manageable debt and made a success of life. As to the novel idea of deciding what will be your income and then limiting expenditure to it (that's what successful families and countries do) they'll just laugh. But here we are discussing Gonski, hospital funding, the NDIS and so on as if money grows on trees.  

It almost did a few years back but I predict those days are gone forever.   Remember balancing the budget (and the 3Rs in education) come first by a country mile.

SENATOR David Bushby (The Examiner, September 21), is blatantly ignoring the ‘elephant in the room’ when it comes to the health and cleanliness of the Tamar River. The release of raw sewerage into the Upper Tamar Estuary means that water quality will remain unsafe and unsanitary.

TasWater operates a combined sewerage system in Launceston dating back to the 1860’s.   This infrastructure is insufficient to meet the needs of the growing Launceston community.   None of the seven sewerage treatment plants consistently comply with their current license requirements.  

Without a modern standard tertiary treatment plant, water quality will not improve and the health and safety of Launceston residents will continue to suffer. Before the last election, TasWater guaranteed $400 million over 10 years to a $1.8 billion upgrade of Tasmania’s water infrastructure, with the project contingent on external funding. I am proud that I was able to seek a commitment from federal Labor to provide $75 million for the extensive works required to consolidate an upgrade to Launceston’s sewerage system. I said at the time that it was important to make a start, despite the fact that the capital requirement was very significant and the project would take many years to complete.

Indeed, the Launceston Improvement Sewerage Plan is one of the largest urban infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Tasmania.   I am still of the view that it would be inequitable for the burden of such a significant capital project to fall purely upon the shareholders of TasWater and ratepayers across the State. Senator Bushby may sing the praises of Mr Nikolic but the fact of the matter is that he and the Liberal government refused to commit to this critical infrastructure investment, continuing to put the environment and health of Launceston and its residents at risk.