Protection against genetic discrimination

Federal Member for Monash Russell Broadbent is calling for protections against genetic discrimination for all Australians.

In a speech to the Parliament last week, he urged the government to remove the exemption for insurers which allows them to discriminate against individuals based on their genetic information.

Mr Broadbent said, “A patient who has had genetic testing done risks being penalised by insurers through higher premiums, lower insurance levels, or not being able to access insurance at all.”

Currently, Australia’s Disability Discrimination Act (1992) prohibits discrimination based on genetic status, however there is an exemption for insurers.

In addition, Australia’s protections against genetic discrimination are lagging behind many countries including the UK, Canada, France, Ireland, Singapore and Germany.

“Australia’s international human rights obligations demands that we do not discriminate on the basis of genetics,” said the Member for Monash.

“Our Commonwealth, state and territory governments must work towards protecting this confidential genetic information and prohibiting genetic discrimination of the Australian people.”