Ms BRODTMANN (1:48 PM) —This month I was honoured to be asked to be an ambassador for Frocktober Canberra 2010. Frocktober encourages Canberra women to don a frock during October to raise awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and raise money for research. Hence my frock today!

Mr Hunt —I’m in!

Ms BRODTMANN —Thank you. We are all very familiar with the symptoms and treatments for breast and cervical cancer, but the non-specific symptoms of ovarian cancer make it hard to detect and awareness about the disease is comparatively low. Between 700 and 800 women in Australia have died from ovarian cancer each year since 1994. Unfortunately there are no proven screening tests for ovarian cancer so the prognosis is relatively poor. Between 2000 and 2006, women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer were only 40 per cent as likely to live five years as other women. That is why I commend the Canberra women who organised Frocktober Canberra 2010 for their efforts. Congratulations and thanks to Amy Moon, Dr Lucy Bates, Reahn Atchison, Brigid Costello, Ramone Bisset, Cara Foster, Laarni Balila, and Claudia Vannithone. Through Frocktober these women set out to raise $10,000 for research and so far they have doubled that with $20,000. Thanks to all the Canberra women, men and businesses who have donated to this worthy women’s health cause, and supported the local retail industry in the process.