The two major parties pledge to provide additional funds for breast cancer MRIs | Australia news

Women with bad cancer have secured commitment from the two main parties to provide additional funds for MRI scans: $ 32.6 million from the Morrison government in next week's budget and $ 47 million from the party Labor if he wins in May.

The Coalition will use the budget next Tuesday to create two new Medicare items for bad MRI, available from November 1, 2019, that will enable more accurate diagnosis and treatment of bad cancer.

If Bill Shorten wins the next election, the Labor Party promises to "work with experts" to finalize the design of new Medicare elements that will allow grants for testing.

Shorten said that Medicare already subsidizes similar MRI scans for men with prostate cancer – but not for women with bad cancer, except in extremely limited circumstances.

"As a result, thousands of women have to pay up to US $ 1,500 for the scanners used to diagnose their cancer, decide how to treat it, and make sure the cancer does not come back," said the union leader. .

The government says the creation of Medicare will benefit 14,000 patients a year.

The Coalition, as part of a major infrastructure effort, will also pledge $ 2.2 billion in additional funding for road safety funding. Scott Morrison said in his statement that the protection of Australians "is the number one priority of my government".

The security package is expected to include $ 1.1 billion in funding for local governments under the Roads to Recovery program, as well as an additional $ 550 million for the "black spot" program, which targets high-risk areas. risk.

The budget should also include $ 571.1 million to improve the safety and efficiency of heavy vehicles through the bridge renewal program and other safety and productivity programs.

While the Coalition was looking for a political boost in the economic statement before going to the polls, Morrison also talked about tax cuts for low- and middle-income people. Rumors that the government might also try to ease an electoral budget with one-time cash payments persist.

"Whenever I know it, I want Australians to be able to keep more of their income," said the prime minister in Perth. "Our budget will be an aspirational budget, a budget for people who will continue to work hard and I want them to be able to keep more of their hard-earned money."