The federal opposition today moved three amendments to the legislation enabling the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR), including one requiring that its operation remain in the hands of the government or a not-for-profit only, which would fundamentally alter the contract signed with Telstra Health to build and operate the system.

Telstra Health was awarded the $178 million, five-year contract for the register in May, but the government failed to pass legislation establishing the new service before Parliament was dissolved for the federal election.