The Menzies Foundation held two scientific conferences on the health consequences of ozone depletion in Hobart in 1989 and 1996. The major recommendation from the second Menzies conference was for a group of experts to meet in workshop mode and develop a detailed protocol for a major research project. This would identify the extent of the problem and the steps which could be taken to protect the Australian community from the effects of increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Early this year, Dr Wooldridge, the Federal Minister for Health, asked a small group to convene such a workshop. The Menzies Foundation, as an independent organisation with previous involvement in the health effects of ozone depletion but with no vested interest in the project, offered to host the workshop at its headquarters in Melbourne on 6-7 April, 1998.

In addition, the National Cancer Control Initiative immediately made available the services of an appropriately skilled and experienced person to act as Project Officer: the Cooperative Research Centre for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology made a grant in aid of $7,000 and the Menzies Foundation provided further financial support of $10,000. The fact that all three organisations responded so positively and so quickly to the Minister's request well demonstrates the importance attributed to this project.

Dr Tom Hurley	The Steering Committee for the project included:  Dr Tom Hurley,  Menzies Foundation (Committee Chairman)    Dr Bruce Armstrong,  NSW Cancer Control Information Centre    Dr Robert Burton,  Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria    Dr Libby Campbell,  National Cancer Control Initiative    Professor David Karoly,  CRC for Southern Hemisphere Meteorology    Professor Richard Lovell,  National Cancer Control Initiative    Dr Michael Manton,  Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre    Mr David Marcus,  Department of Health and Family Services    Dr Colin Roy,  Australian Radiation Laboratory    Professor Hugh Taylor,  University of Melbourne    Dr Eric Wigglesworth,  Menzies Foundation	Dr Bruce Armstrong
Professor David Karoly

A small delegation, led by Dr Hurley, presented the proposal to the Minister for Health and Family Services on 18 May, 1998.

It has been the policy of the Foundation to recognise the importance of public health issues and, by means of workshops and conferences, bring them to a stage when they can be further developed by organisations with the infrastructure and support necessary for their successful development. In the case of the AUSSUN proposal, it was therefore agreed that the National Cancer Control Initiative would be the most appropriate group to further progress and manage this project.