iTnews
  • Home
  • News
  • Technology
  • Telco/ISP

Telstra's $178m cancer register deal under attack

By Allie Coyne on Sep 15, 2016 3:01PM
Telstra's $178m cancer register deal under attack

Labor, Greens want operation in government hands.

Labor and the Greens are fighting the government's $178 million plan to outsource its new national cancer screening register to Telstra, arguing the sensitive data should not reside with a private company.

Telstra won the five-year contract for implementation and maintenance of the system, which will record the cancer screening results of 11 million patients, in May.

The register will replace eight state and territory cervical cancer screening registers, and one paper-based bowel screening register, to provide a single record for each individual. The system will interact with My Health Records, Medicare and private health providers.

The database will be used by state and territory governments, general practices and pathology services, and private and public health providers.

However, Labor and Greens MPs argue the data in the register is too sensitive to be handed to a for-profit private sector organisation to look after.

The government tried to pass legislation that would enable the register this week, but came up against the two parties when they combined their votes to send the bills to senate committee for scrutiny.

Labor and the Greens want to add amendments to the legislation that will mean only the government or not-for-profits could operate the register.

"The government signed the contract despite no legislation having been passed to establish the national register, and they are now trying to rush through legislation without giving parliament the time to properly consider the implications of their hushed deal," Labor health spokesperson Catherine King said.

"Why is the government determined to hand a for-profit provider control of Australians' most intimate health information, such as results of pap smears that allow inferences about a person's sexual status?"

Manager of opposition business in the senate Katy Gallagher argued the register was "far too sensitive to conduct with their training wheels attached".

"This is uncharted territory - it deserves the fullest attention and scrutiny of our parliamentary processes," she said.

The government argued the bill did not require further scrutiny. Health minister Sussan Ley said a delay to the legislation's passage put the success of the cancer screening program at risk.

"If the leader of the opposition and his members have the interests of women's health at heart, then they will stop playing politics and get this legislation back in the parliament to be dealt with before the end of this week," Ley said earlier this week.

The senate committee inquiry is scheduled to report back by October 11. The register is expected to be operational by May 17.

Telstra declined to comment.

Got a news tip for our journalists? Share it with us anonymously here.
Copyright © iTnews.com.au . All rights reserved.
Tags:
governmentitnational cancer screening registertelcotelco/isptelstratelstra health

Partner Content

The Great Resignation has intensified insider security threats
Promoted Content The Great Resignation has intensified insider security threats
Why rethinking your CMS is crucial for customer retention
Promoted Content Why rethinking your CMS is crucial for customer retention
Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations
Promoted Content Security "mindset shift" needed to protect organisations
How to turn digital complexity into competitive advantage
Promoted Content How to turn digital complexity into competitive advantage

Sponsored Whitepapers

Free eBook: Digital Transformation 101 – for banks
Free eBook: Digital Transformation 101 – for banks
Why financial services need to tackle their Middle Office
Why financial services need to tackle their Middle Office
Learn: The latest way to transfer files between customers
Learn: The latest way to transfer files between customers
Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Extracting the value of data using Unified Observability
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see
Planning before the breach: You can’t protect what you can’t see

Events

  • Forrester Technology & Innovation Asia Pacific 2022
By Allie Coyne
Sep 15 2016
3:01PM
0 Comments

Related Articles

  • Telstra finally wraps up $1.8bn Defence network overhaul
  • Telstra completes $328m fibre upgrade at NSW schools
  • Telstra Digicel deal completed
  • TPG blasts 'emotionally manipulative' Optus campaign against Telstra deal
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn Share on Whatsapp Email A Friend

Most Read Articles

NSW Police dumps Bezos-backed Mark43 from core systems overhaul

NSW Police dumps Bezos-backed Mark43 from core systems overhaul

Australian court finds insurer not liable for ransomware clean-up costs

Australian court finds insurer not liable for ransomware clean-up costs

ADHA extends Accenture's My Health Record support deal for $100m

ADHA extends Accenture's My Health Record support deal for $100m

Wesfarmers to stand up offensive cyber security capabilities

Wesfarmers to stand up offensive cyber security capabilities

Digital Nation

Australia will lose 11 percent of jobs to automation by 2040: Forrester
Australia will lose 11 percent of jobs to automation by 2040: Forrester
Criteo to fork out $94.7m for consent breaches
Criteo to fork out $94.7m for consent breaches
Domino’s invests in observability for zero contact delivery
Domino’s invests in observability for zero contact delivery
COVER STORY: How KPMG, Mirvac and ASX use blockchain to build trust in the property sector
COVER STORY: How KPMG, Mirvac and ASX use blockchain to build trust in the property sector
Metaverses on the agenda for Dominello, Husic ministerial meeting
Metaverses on the agenda for Dominello, Husic ministerial meeting
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorisation.
Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of nextmedia's Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.