Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Tinternvale Primary School

Mr HALSE (Ringwood) (19:03): (1367) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Health and Minister for Ambulance Services in the other place. The action I seek is for the minister to provide funding to Tinternvale Primary School in my electorate, which has applied for a school shade grant under the government’s school shade grants program.

Shade used in combination with other sun protection measures, including protective clothing, broad-brimmed hats, sunglasses and SPF30+ or higher sunscreen, provides the best protection from the harmful UV radiation exposure that is responsible for the majority of skin cancers. The shade grants program provides funding for new permanent shade, natural shade, portable shade and sun protection items. I note that Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three Australians being diagnosed with the disease before the age of 70. In 2017 melanoma was the fourth most common cancer in Victoria, yet it is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer through simple measures like our school shade grants program. I look forward to the minister’s response.