The Albanese Government's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook has confirmed its decision to defer the creation of Genomics Australia until mid-2025.
"The Government will defer the commencement of the new entity Genomics Australia until 1 July 2025. This deferral will enable further consultation with the sector and further work for the design and implementation of the measure," it said.
The former Coalition Government announced the planned creation of Genomics Australia in the 2022-23 Budget, announced in March 2022, with an investment of $28.1 million.
According to the announcement, it would be established as a corporate Commonwealth entity under legislation from 1 January 2024 and chaired by Professor Kathryn North AC.
Its purpose would be to "lead and coordinate a national program of work to support the integration of genomic medicine into routine clinical care in Australia in an efficient, effective, ethical and equitable way."
An Expert Advisory Group was established, co-chaired by Professor North and Department of Health and Aged Care deputy secretary Penny Shakespeare, to oversee the creation of Genomics Australia.