Labor lays out cancer wait time plan

Federal Labor has vowed to work with the states and territories to reduce wait times for cancer treatment and surgery in public hospitals, if it wins the upcoming election.

The opposition will also stump up $500 million to help ensure Australians with cancer can access treatment more quickly.

The money would come from a $2.3 billion fund that Labor Leader Bill Shorten proposed in his budget reply speech, to improve the coverage of cancer services on Medicare.

Mr Shorten says the commitment comes as waiting times for essential surgery and procedures in the public system have blown out.

"When people are sick, the last thing they need is to sit on long waiting lists watching the clock for the treatment they need," he said in a statement.

Labor says it would work with the states and territories to establish a National Partnership Agreement that would help address the issue.

The commitment comes after the party said on Sunday $37.7 million of its cancer fund would go towards support services for children.