The messages were delivered at an intimate meeting, which took place with Premier Baird in Sydney on February 4, and marks a significant step in Cancer Council NSW’s Saving Life: Change Starts Here election campaign.

Cancer Council NSW is asking the next State Government to consider five key areas of change, including: addressing chemotherapy co-payments, increasing palliative care services, improving access to care coordination for cancer patients, addressing the selling of tobacco across the state and improving cancer services for Aboriginal people.

Since the Saving Life Campaign started in July 2014 Cancer Council NSW local representatives have met with Labor and Liberal candidates to ensure they understand the issues they are working on, and the opportunities for the next State Government to take action.

Jennifer Mozina from the Cancer Council Community Office in Bega said chemotherapy co-payments continue to affect cancer patients and their families in the Bega Valley area. 

“When I last met with Mr Andrew Constance, member for Bega and NSW Treasurer in October last year, I voiced our concerns along with the community’s continued concerns about the chemotherapy co-payment,” Ms Mozina said.  

“Mr Constance committed to take our concerns to the Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner however I’ve not had a response to those concerns as yet, which is disappointing given the commitment that Mr Constance has for the cancer community in the Bega electorate.” 

Local Labor candidate Leanne Atkinson has committed to take Cancer Council’s five Saving Life issues to her party room through Labor health spokesman Walt Secord, with particular focus on the issue of chemotherapy co-payments. 

Cancer Council met with Ms Atkinson prior to Christmas to get an update on her progress and the Labor party stance on the Saving Life campaign, this update is expected at Ms Atkinson’s Health and Hospital Consultation in Merimbula on Thursday and was not available at time of publication.