Emma Comer (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to begin with a story about Mary, a single mother of two living in Kippa-Ring. Mary manages a chronic condition and fills four PBS prescriptions a month—one for herself and the others for her children. Under the current system, that's over $1,500 a year just for essential medications. With the new $25 cap she will save $300 annually. That is the difference between covering the medicines her children need and stretching her already tight budget even further. I met a veteran in Bracken Ridge named Joseph who had a concession card and had been paying just $7.70 per script. That rate has been frozen until 2030, protecting him from rising costs and allowing him to plan his finances without the fear of unexpected rises.

These stories show how policy translates into genuine relief and how savings that might look small in isolation can add up to real freedom, peace of mind and financial stability. I am proud to champion this reform in parliament. It reinforces what I've always believed—that health care should be not a privilege for the well-off but a guarantee for all, regardless of income.

Starting from 1 January, the people of Petrie will be able to fill their PBS prescriptions for less, a change that will make a real difference for people with diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic pain, mental health conditions and so much more. Imagine walking into your local pharmacy, like TerryWhite in Margate, where Chris Campbell and his incredible team have been serving the community for years. They know their customers by name. They know the medications their patients rely on, and they go above and beyond to make sure everyone receives the care and guidance they need.

I had the pleasure of visiting Chris and the team recently, and I was truly impressed. They walked me through their pharmacy, showing me not just the prescriptions but the personal connections they have built with their patients. Community pharmacists have tough conversations with their patients every single day—patients who are having to choose between filling their scripts or paying for groceries. I saw firsthand the care and compassion that Margate Terry White show to their patients when explaining dosages, offering advice and supporting families in ways that go far beyond filling a script. Their dedication is incredible, and their passion for helping the community is clear in every interaction.

It's moments like this, in meeting local heroes like Chris and seeing the human side of health care, that make policies like the $25 PBS cap feel even more powerful. It's not just numbers on a page; it's about people being able to afford the medications they need and local pharmacies continuing to provide exceptional service without compromise. I left feeling inspired and excited to work further with them, to hear more of the stories about the difference affordable medicines are making to their patients and to keep advocating for initiatives that support both our local healthcare providers and the families they serve.

This is this is community in action, and the savings are remarkable. Australians will save up to $6.60 on each prescription. Collectively, over the next four years, the cut will put $689 million back into the pockets of patients. The money being saved isn't going to the check-out counter at the chemist. Instead, it's helping people pay their bills and cover their mortgages. These savings will quickly make a difference, especially for patients with multiple regular prescriptions for essential medicines. These are the people who need it the most. For every script filled under this policy is a small act of relief. When you add it up—millions of scripts and millions of dollars saved—it paints a clear picture.

This is a government that is delivering meaningful, practical change, not slogans nor empty promises but real relief for millions of Australians right when they need it the most. This is what good policy looks like—real, tangible savings, millions of times over for people who need it the most. In Petrie, we are hardworking families and pensioners. Modest income households make up a large part of the community. This policy will put health care within reach. Whether you rely on one medication or several, the new cap ensures that you are not going without to afford the medication you need.

PBS medications have not cost $25 since 2004. I don't know about you, but I was ten years old back then, and life looked a little different. In 2004, my mum would yell at me: 'Get off the internet. I need to make a phone call.' We were still burning our favourite songs onto CDs, and most of us were still on MSN Messenger poking our friends with nudges. If you had a mobile phone, it probably flipped open, and you had to press the number 7 once, the number 2 twice and the number 7 again four times just to type out PBS. The year 2004 feels like a lifetime ago. That's also how long Australians have been waiting for medicines to be this affordable again. Thanks to Labor's reforms, from January 2026, we will be winding back the clock, not on technology, thankfully, but on the price of PBS medicines. They will be back to the cheapest they've been in more than 20 years. This time you won't need dial-up internet to access this benefit.

It is very rare that you see prices go backwards. Year after year, costs usually go up, not down. That's true for most things in life, whether it's rent, groceries or petrol. For decades, the cost of filling a script has crept higher and higher. That's why this reform is so remarkable. Labor isn't just slowing the rise; we're turning it around and bringing the cost of medicines down. That means that, for the first time in a generation, Australians will walk into their pharmacy and pay less than they usually do. Think about that for a moment. At a time when families are under pressure from the cost of living, the Albanese Labor government is doing something unusual, something that goes against the grain. We're making medicines cheaper, not more expensive. This is one area where the government has delivered concrete relief where it matters most: right in your medicine cabinet.

The PBS is deeply important to both our government and Australia. It is one of Australia's most important health programs. It ensures that every Australian can access essential medicines at the price they can afford. Without the PBS, Australians would face the full cost of life-saving medications—costs that could be hundreds or even thousands of dollars year. Why is this so important? It is because medicines aren't a luxury. They're often the difference between a full, long, healthy life and suffering. The PBS is the cornerstone of fairness in our healthcare system. It doesn't just treat symptoms; it protects families, reduces stress and gives Australians peace of mind knowing that help is there when they need it most.

Australia is fortunate to have the PBS, because many countries without a system like this struggle to make medicines affordable. In so many countries patients often pay hundreds of dollars for a single prescription, and it's not uncommon for people to skip or ration their medicines simply because they cannot afford them. Families are forced to make the impossible choices between medicines and other essentials. The PBS protects Australians from that harsh reality. It guarantees that, whether you live in Narangba, Woody Point or Deception Bay, you can get the medicines you need without breaking the bank. It's not just a safety net; it's a lifeline, a guarantee of fairness and a reason why Australians can stay healthier and live longer. In short, the PBS is more than a scheme. It's a commitment that health care is a right, not a privilege, and that no Australian should ever be left behind when it comes to medicine.

The PBS supports Australians and has for close to eight decades now. We are proud of our track record of not use just maintaining but strengthening this system, delivering Australians access to the best medicines available from around the world at affordable prices—prices that we're making even more affordable. The PBS isn't the only healthcare initiative we're strengthening. We've tripled the bulk-billing incentive, ensuring that more families can see a GP without worrying about the bill. We're building more Medicare urgent care clinics so Australians can get care closer to home instead of waiting for hours in a hospital emergency department. We're investing in the biggest expansion of our health workforce in history, training the next generations of doctors, nurses and midwives. These aren't just policies; they are practical, lasting changes that mean that, when you and your family need care, you will be able to get it.

Affordable, accessible, universal—that's Labor's vision for health care, and it's a vision we are delivering. Accessible health care is who we are. In my electorate, peninsula residents will shortly be able to walk into the Medicare mental health centre and get the mental health support they need without spending a cent. All you need to access this local mental health support is your Medicare card.

One of the most important protections we have delivered is for those who need it most: our pensioners, our veterans and our concession card holders. Right now they pay just $7.70 for a script under the PBS. Under Labor, that cost will remain frozen right through until the end of the decade. That means that, no matter what pressures hit household budgets, the most vulnerable in my community can fill their prescriptions knowing that the costs won't go up. For someone living on a fixed income, that certainty is priceless. I think of a pensioner in Bald Hills living on a fixed income, the carer in Mango Hill balancing household bills or the veteran in North Lakes managing chronic pain. For each of them, this freeze is peace of mind. In Petrie, more than 40,000 people hold a concession card. That's tens of thousands of pensioners, seniors, veterans and people on low incomes who rely on affordable medication. For them the Labor government's decision to freeze the cost of the PBS concession scripts at $7.70 until 2030 isn't just good policy; it is a lifeline. It means security. It means certainty. It means that they can go to the pharmacy knowing that the price of their medication won't creep year after year. When you add it all up, that's tens of thousands of households in Petrie who will be healthier, more secure and less stressed because Labor is putting people first.

Take Rose, a Redcliffe pensioner who wrote to my office. She fills six scripts a month for arthritis and other health issues.

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