Labor calls to extend opt out period on My Health record amid privacy concerns

Labor is trying to extend the opt out period for the e-health system beyond tomorrow's deadline amid privacy concerns.

About 17 million Australians will be automatically enrolled in the My Health system unless they ask not to be included.

The Opposition will move in the Senate today to give them another 12 months.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has already extend the opt out period by a month and is refusing to bow to the Labor demands.

Shadow Minister Catherine King said amendments to improve the system's privacy and security haven't yet passed parliament and many Australians don't fully understand what it means.

"Let's get it right," Ms King said.

"We think this is an important reform, a reform started by Labor.

"But we think that they need the time to get it right."

If the Labor motion is passed in the Upper House it would then be sent to the House of Representatives.

But it would need an absolute majority, and the government controls the business agenda, meaning it might never come up for debate.

The Greens have moved their own extension, and will support the Labor motion, saying it's "absolutely critical."

Leader Richard Di Natale told the Senate said the system is a "big, big change" and people need time to understand how it's managed and how their private records will be managed.

He said it was important the government "gets it right" so they can make an informed choice.