Queensland could become the first state in Australia to protect people from future discrimination if they get a genetic test.

The State Government is investigating how to stop insurance companies and employers from using the result of genetic testing, or the sequencing of the entire human genome, from being used to charge higher premiums or make people ineligible for insurance.

That could help protect the tens of thousands of people likely to have their genome sequenced in the next few years, as the technology to do it becomes more available.

Professor Matthew Brown is the director of the University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute, which researches chronic diseases.

"I think within the next 12 months or so I think there's going to be capacity within at least New South Wales and Queensland that we can sequence maybe up to 30,000 genomes a year," he said.

"When we are talking about only 13 years ago the first whole genome was sequenced, that's a remarkable expansion."

Professor Brown said the technology had also become cheaper and could become a common diagnostic tool for doctors.

"A whole genome sequence, just the laboratory cost of doing it, is just under $1,000 now, which is only slightly different from an MRI scan or even a day in hospital," he said.

Health Minister worried after being offered genetic test

The Queensland Government began looking at the issue when Health Minister Lawrence Springborg was offered the chance to have his own genome sequenced.

"When I went and talked to a genetic counsellor he actually ran me through some of the opportunities and some of the risks," Mr Springborg said.

But Mr Springborg decided against it, and became concerned about the lack of a legal framework to govern how test results affect things like insurance and employment.

"Once you have your genome sequenced then you may have an obligation to disclose that to your children, they may have an obligation to disclose that to insurance companies, so I've certainly thought about it," he said.

"I've actually charged the Department of Health to look at legislation which will provide the level of protection which is necessary for the individual who is interested in having their genome sequenced for therapeutic benefit, to protect not only them, but also their families as well."

At present, life and income protection insurance companies, which are self-regulated by the Financial Services Council, require people to disclose the results of any genetic testing they have had, but would not force them to take a test.

The council said any test results could not be used to determine the risks for a person's children, but they could influence their eligibility for a new policy or their premiums.