Leukaemia Foundation calls on the next Victorian Government to end ‘postcode penalty’ for cancer patients

The Leukaemia Foundation has today released its 2026 Victorian election policy priorities, calling on every party and candidate to commit to two urgent reforms that would reduce financial hardship for Victorians facing blood cancer and improve regional supportive care.

The Foundation's pre-election platform is calling for a fairer Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) and greater investment in regional community-based wellbeing services for cancer patients.

Leukaemia Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Chris Tanti, said no Victorian should face poorer outcomes, delayed care or financial distress simply because they live outside Melbourne.

"Where you live in this state should never determine whether you can access the treatment and support you need to survive cancer, and thrive beyond it,” Mr Tanti said.

"This election, we're asking every party and candidate to commit to two practical reforms that would help close this gap. There is always more to be done, but these two priorities would make a meaningful and immediate difference to the lives of regional Victorians facing cancer."

Priority one: a fairer regional patient travel subsidy scheme

For regional Victorians with blood cancer, most will spend many months away from home to receive life-saving treatment in Melbourne-based specialist centres. The Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS) is intended to make this care accessible, but current assistance has not kept pace with the real costs of travel, accommodation and everyday living.

The Leukaemia Foundation's recently released national scorecard, which ranks every state and territory travel assistance scheme against ATO real-cost benchmarks, places Victoria last of all eight jurisdictions across the country.

The current accommodation rate of $49.50 a night now covers just 28.3 per cent of average real-world accommodation costs.

"For a Victorian undergoing blood cancer treatment over an average eight-month period, the accommodation shortfall alone can exceed $30,000, before lost income, additional travel costs, specialist fees and medication expenses are even taken into account," Mr Tanti said.

The Foundation's three-point plan for a fairer scheme calls for:

• Increasing the accommodation subsidy to $125 per night, to cover at least 70 per cent of average real-world accommodation costs in Melbourne.
• Setting a minimum private-vehicle travel rate of 45 cents per kilometre, to fairly support patients and carers travelling long distances by car.
• Legislating annual indexation, so VPTAS rates keep pace with rising costs and don't fall further behind.

Priority two: regional supportive care closer to home

Australia's improving cancer survival rates are one of the great achievements of modern healthcare, with five-year cancer survival now exceeding 70 per cent. But Mr Tanti said surviving cancer is not the end of the journey.

"More Victorians are surviving cancer than ever before, but for many, the impact doesn't end when active treatment finishes," Mr Tanti said.

"People often face physical, emotional, financial and practical challenges for years afterwards, and too many Victorians leave hospital without a clear pathway to cancer-specific supportive care.

The Foundation is calling on the next Victorian Government to strengthen the state's cancer support network in the regions, with clearer pathways to practical assistance, psychosocial support, physical rehabilitation and care navigation to support Victorians to live well with and beyond cancer.

Mr Tanti said both priorities reflect a single, simple principle.

"No Victorian should be left to navigate cancer alone, and no one's ability to access treatment or support should come down to their postcode or their bank balance," Mr Tanti said.

"We're inviting every party and candidate contesting this election to commit to ensuring no Victorian with cancer is disadvantaged by distance or denied the support they need to live well."

Join the call to Cut the Cost of Cancer. Sign the petition at leukaemia.org.au and urge governments to provide better financial support for Australians impacted by cancer.

For support, people affected by blood cancer can contact the Leukaemia Foundation on 1800 620 420 or visit leukaemia.org.au.

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