Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to talk about the Albanese Labor government and what it has delivered in terms of another cost-of-living measure. I am proud to sit on this side of the House and reduce the cost of medicines, cutting the PBS general patient co-payment from $31.60 to just $25 from 1 January next year. The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was in 2004, more than 20 years ago, when I was just 21—not really!

Since our re-election, we have wasted no time on this decision, delivering on this commitment and another cost-of-living measure. In Victoria, residents have saved more than $425 million on 69 million scripts. When I'm out and about in the community, speaking to locals, I hear how important these reforms are to the community of Dunkley, particularly for its women, who can now access more medications for endometriosis and menopause. In addition to the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, the Albanese Labor government has established new mental health hubs, endometriosis clinics and the very popular Medicare urgent care clinics, with one in Dunkley. The Albanese Labor government is delivering for Dunkley and for the country to keep us well. (Time expired)

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