Recent survey revealed that failure of the Federal Government to renew funding for SunSmart campaigns will lead to death of 1900 Australians due to skin cancer. The study also revealed that despite the fact that money spent in SunSmart campaigns is profitable for the government in the long run still there is no funding commitment beyond this summer. Researchers said that every dollar invested in prevention campaigns produces a $2.32 saving to the health system.

Data collected by Deakin University on behalf of the Cancer Council showed that as the result of first national SunSmart campaign in 2006-07, fewer Australians put themselves at risk in the sun.

Professor Ian Olver, cancer Council Australia chief executive said the findings made a "compelling case" for the federal government to recommit in its May budget to an ongoing skin cancer prevention campaign.

Researchers estimated that annual campaigns each costing about $8 million can prevent 20,000 melanoma cases and 49,000 non-melanoma skin cancer cases. Report showed that the Federal Government has invested $18.5 million in three national skin cancer awareness campaigns since 2006.