Published August 2026
Families of young cancer patients are among more than 32,000 people who’ve signed a petition calling for a long-awaited proton therapy unit to finally be established in Adelaide.
The petition will today be handed to the State Liberals on the steps of Parliament, before being presented to the House in a motion by Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing Jack Batty.
Billie Tuckerman, who was forced to take her daughter Evelyn to the United States for proton therapy treatment, said she started the petition to force the State and Federal Governments to take action.
“When my daughter Evelyn was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive bone cancer at just seven months old, proton treatment wasn’t available anywhere in Australia,” she said.
“Like many families, we had no choice but to travel to the other side of the world, separating our family and taking on enormous financial, emotional and medical strain.
“The fact that Australia still doesn’t have proton therapy is an embarrassment. No family should ever have to leave the country to save their child’s life.
State Liberal Leader Ashton Hurn says its time families needing life-saving proton therapy had some certainty about when it will be available in Australia.
“Families shouldn’t have to travel thousands of kilometres overseas for treatment that’s been promised here in Australia,” she said.
“Billie has spent years passionately advocating for action but says she is continuing to get 'crickets' from the Government.
“I can only imagine the pain and frustration those impacted by cancer must be feeling as we continue to wait for answers.
“This isn’t just another infrastructure project. It’s about giving Australian children access to world-class cancer treatment here at home, instead of forcing families to travel overseas at the most difficult time of their lives.”
Shadow Minister for Health and Wellbeing Jack Batty said Adelaide was the best location for the facility – and urged the Malinauskas Government to make it happen.
“The Bragg Centre is the most advanced proton therapy facility in the country. We’ve got the bunker, we’ve got the clinical expertise — now we need the political will to get this done.
“South Australia offers the quickest path to delivering proton therapy in Australia. The State and Federal Governments need to stop delaying, provide certainty and get on with the job.”
Media Contact: Pete McDonald 0402 293 078
