Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member. Along with the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, the member for Macquarie and the vast number of women on this side of the House consistently remind me that you can't be serious about strengthening Medicare without a strong focus on women's health because women consume about 60 per cent of all healthcare services in this country, and they face huge lifetime health costs—not because they're sick but because they're women—in areas like contraception and reproductive health, and during perimenopause and menopause.

In this term a couple of really important Senate inquiries have lifted the lid on literally decades of neglect, revealing a very deep sense among so many Australian women that they're just not listened to, that their symptoms are often minimised or even fully discounted in the healthcare system. We've heard that message loud and clear, and last night's budget includes almost $800 million to deliver Australia's women more choice, better care and lower cost.

It's extraordinary to me that it has been more than 30 years since a new oral contraceptive pill has been added to the PBS. A bunch have been added to the private market and registered with the TGA. This year already we've added three new pills including the only single hormone pill, Slinda, which is used by about 100,000 Australian women who've been paying top dollar in the private market. Jemima from St Kilda, who's 42, wrote to us and said, 'I've been taking the pill since I was 17, but as I've got older I've wanted to know more about the progestogen-only pill. I've been taking Slinda for 18 months, but the cost does add up.' All contraceptives should be affordable, but this PBS listing is going to deliver huge benefit and opportunity for so many women.

And it's not just contraception. For more than 20 years, not a single new menopause hormone treatment was added to the PBS. This year already, we've added three, ensuring that around 150,000 women every year will save up to $400. And, for more than 30 years, there was not a single new medicine added for endometriosis, a condition that impacts about a million Australian women. In the last six months, we've added two, including most recently one that will save women almost $3,000 a year. We're also opening more endo and pelvic pain clinics. We're increasing funding for GPs to provide support during menopause and for the insertion and removal of long-acting contraception.

After literally decades of no action in these areas at all from the former government, Australia's women are finally getting the support that they deserve and they need from a stronger Medicare. We've done more in the budget last night than literally has been done for decades. It's the sort of action you only get from a Labor government.

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