Child cancer funding announcement scrapped after Forrest angered Hunt

A cancer centre was expecting the announcement of an extra $67m until Andrew Forrest angered the Health Minister.

Health Minister Greg Hunt, left, and Andrew Forrest during the controversial press conference in Melbourne on Wednesday. Picture: AAP

A press conference on crucial child cancer treatment was dumped to prevent the rift between Health Minister Greg Hunt and billionaire miner Andrew Forrest sparking another wave of adverse publicity.

With the government incensed by Mr Forrest’s diplomatic intervention on China on Wednesday, officials decided to scuttle another press conference scheduled for yesterday involving Mr Hunt and Mr Forrest.

That second press conference was to announce $67 million in extra funds in a joint government-Forrest initiative to ensure every child in Australia with cancer has access to lifesaving treatment.

The Australian understands Mr Hunt and senior government ministers were furious with Mr Forrest for bringing Victorian China consul-general Zhou Long to Wednesday’s press conference on coronavirus testing kits.

The Morrison government believes it was blindsided by Mr Forrest in the middle of a diplomatic spat between China and Australia that gave the Asian giant a platform to defend its behaviour over the virus.

The Australian understands that when Mr Hunt’s diary entries were checked they showed another media event was planned with Mr Forrest, this time for the joint cancer announcement in Melbourne on Thursday.

Staff at Melbourne’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre were preparing for the joint announcement when they were told at the last-minute it would not go ahead.

Government sources said the concern was that the falling out between Mr Hunt and the billionaire would dominate what was meant to be a positive story.

Mr Hunt’s office said: ``The announcement was issued by media release so as not to distract focus from the importance of this life saving program for children.’’

``Over the coming years this important partnership will give many Australian families the potential for better outcomes and real hope.

Multiple sources have told The Australian it was cancelled “without notice” on Wednesday after Mr Forrest was accused of blindsiding Mr Hunt in a ``clumsy’’ intervention that embarrassed Australia.

Mr Hunt on Thursday announced via media release that the government, in partnership with Mr Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation, would provide an extra $67m for the lifesaving treatment.

The joint investment through the government’s Medical Research Future Fund and Mr Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation, will extend the world respected Zero Childhood Cancer National Precision Medicine Program.

The program is led by the Kids Cancer Centre and the Children’s Cancer Institute, which are located at Sydney’s Children’s Hospital.

Mr Forrest was contacted for comment on Thursday but did not respond.

Mr Hunt said in his statement the government would inject $55m to support the expansion of the program and thanked the Minderoo Foundation for its contribution.

“Cancer is always a devastating diagnosis. Each year, about 750 children aged 14 or less are diagnosed with cancer in Australia,” Mr Hunt said.

“Many of these children have cancers that are very difficult to treat and have a less than 30 per cent survival rate.”

“If your child is battling cancer, you want to know that the latest research is translating into effective treatment as fast as possible, with many experts working together to achieve one common goal, save lives.

“I thank the Minderoo Foundation for their contribution. Our joint aim is to provide every Australian child with cancer with the best possible chance to recover and live a happy, healthy life.’’

Mr Forrest said: “The vision of the Zero Childhood Cancer program is simple and inspiring: reduce childhood cancer deaths to zero.’’

“Over the last twelve months, we’ve seen Zero achieve incredible breakthroughs in the fight against cancer.

“Minderoo Foundation is pleased the program will soon be available to all Aussie kids and their families.”