Peter Khalil (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise in support of Labor's National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025, which will freeze the price of PBS medicines at just $25. It's a remarkable thing, because it's so important. Why is this so important for the community? Apart from the fact that there are so many cost-of-living pressures that people are facing, this type of support, through medicines, is critical to people's lives and their health care. It's fundamental.

We on this side are proud to be the party and the government that stand by working Australians. Under the Labor government, no-one will have to choose between putting food on the table and paying for the medicine that they need to stay healthy. It's fundamental. The bill delivers on our election commitment to make cheaper medicines even cheaper by reducing the price of PBS medicines from $31.60 to just $25. That's a whopping 20 per cent cut in the maximum cost of PBS medicines, which will save Australians over $200 million each year.

To put this in perspective, the last time PBS medicines were this price was over 20 years ago. That's 2004. Back in 2004—I don't know where you were, Deputy Speaker Young—I remember I had a full head of hair, and I was rocking out to Pearl Jam. I think that was the band of the time. Member for Lyons, do you remember where you were in 2004?

See this speech in context