Ms King presented Ms Roxon with more than 40 letters, faxes and emails plus two petitions supporting the proposed $55 million centre.

She said the centre had strong community support.

"The minister is in no doubt that we want this centre, that it's needed and that it would benefit the region enormously," Ms King said.

Ms King said it was "appalling" that cancer survival rates across regional Victoria were "well behind " those in metropolitan areas.

"Many regions across Australia are competing for this funding," she told Parliament.

"I believe that we have a strong case in Ballarat and I want to thank the many people who have written to me sharing their often painful family experiences and pledging their support for the project," she said.

The Federal Government has provided $560 million to build or expand 10 centres to improve regional access to cancer services.

Ballarat Health Services, St John of God Hospital and the Austin Hospital have joined forces to tender for one of the proposed centres.