Christine Cupitt, Council of Australian Life Insurers CEO: Thank you Minister and good morning everybody.
The Council of Australian Life Insurers is really strongly supportive of the Government’s recommitment to legislate a ban on genetic testing in life insurance underwriting. It’s good for Australians and their families, it’s good for the Government, and it’s good for life insurers too.
Life insurers are here to provide people with the protection and certainty they need on their best and worst days.
Genetic testing can provide people with real peace of mind. As life insurers, we want people to access the information they need to make informed choices about their health and proactively manage it in a preventive way.
Genetic testing can empower people to take control of their health, make those informed decisions, and take preventive action if that’s what’s right for them. Of course, legislation is critical.
Australia’s life insurers have worked with the government for almost two years on the ban, and during that time our position has been consistent.
We support the Government legislating the ban on the use of genetic testing in life insurance underwriting.
As genetic testing becomes more common, more accessible, and more clinically useful, now is the time to act.
Of course, this is a rapidly evolving area, and that is why we’re pleased to see the commitment from the Government to a five-year review of the legislation. That review is critical to make sure that the legislation keeps pace with advances in genetic testing.
So Australia’s life insurers support today’s announcement, and we look forward to playing our part in giving people the confidence they need to proactively manage their health.