Competing interests: KC’s research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (Fellowship APP1194679, Centre of Research Excellence in Cervical Cancer Control 1135172). KC and MS are co-Principal Investigators of an investigator-initiated trial of cervical screening, Compass, run by the Australian Centre for Prevention of Cervical Cancer (ACPCC), which is a government-funded not-for profit charity; the ACPCC has received equipment and a funding contribution from Roche Molecular Diagnostics, and operational support from the Australian Government. KC, DB and MS are also co-leads on a major investigator-initiated implementation program Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific (ECCWP), which will receive support from the Minderoo Foundation and equipment donations from Cepheid Inc. KC worked for Polartechnics (now TruScreen) in the period 1996–2005, prior to commencing her research career. DB is also the lead Clinical Investigator on an Australian Government grant to optimise cervical screening for people with intellectual disability. MS is also a trustee on the ROSE Foundation Board. The ROSE Foundation receives donation income to support in country activities, including the purchase of laboratory consumables for HPV testing. MS’s employer, ACPCC, does not receive revenue from the ROSE Foundation. NB had consultancy contracts with WHO and The Daffodil Centre.