Wollongong's state election candidates will be asked where they stand on issues such as tougher penalties for selling cigarettes to children at a cancer forum in the city.
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Cancer Council NSW Southern Region is running the event, which will outline what the organisation sees as the five most important opportunities for the next state government in the fight against cancer.
Community engagement manager Tina Hunt said it would be a good chance for Illawarra residents to come along to hear the candidates' responses.
She said Wollongong MP Noreen Hay and Greens candidate Mitchell Bresser had already agreed to attend the forum, which would also feature a range of guest speakers.
"The Cancer Council's statewide campaign, Saving Life: Vision for Change, outlines the most important ways the government can act to reduce the number of people who get diagnosed with cancer, and to ensure those with cancer get the best care," Ms Hunt said.
"For each of those problems we've identified practical solutions that the next state government could use to help beat cancer.
"Forums are being held across the state and next Wednesday's event, from 5.30pm at Wollongong Golf Club, gives our local candidates a chance to have their say, and hopefully pledge their support."
Addressing the sale of tobacco products to minors is one of the five issues the Cancer Council wants better addressed.
"We need stronger controls over retailers - if they sell tobacco to children then a small fine is not enough," Ms Hunt said.
"Tobacco retailers should have the same strict controls as alcohol retailers - they need to have a licence that can then be revoked if they do the wrong thing."
Ensuring cancer patients, and their families, get the care they need - and ensuring they get appropriate palliative care, are two of the other issues.
"We have excellent palliative care workers in this region - we just need more of them," Ms Hunt said.
"We also have amazing co-ordinated cancer carers who oversee a patient's cancer journey - again though we need more of these carers, especially with the new Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre and enhanced Illawarra Centre."
The Cancer Council is also campaigning to ensure patients undergoing chemotherapy are not charged a co-payment for the medication.
As well, the organisation is seeking to make sure Aboriginal cancer patients are cared for by Aboriginal health workers who understand their cultural beliefs.
For more information about the forum contact tinah@nswcc.org.au or call 4223 0215.
lwachsmuth@illawarramercury.com .au
