Mark Butler (Hindmarsh, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks to the Member for Griffith. She knows that the PBS is one of Australia's great social programs. For more than 80 years now, it's guaranteed access for Australians to the best medicines in the world at affordable prices. Since we came to government we have made more than 350 new or expanded listings on the PBS.

This month we added a new treatment for multiple myeloma called Darzalex, which is the first new treatment for that condition in 12 years. Around 2,600 Australians are diagnosed with multiple myeloma every year, and the stakeholder Myeloma Australia has been lobbying for this listing for years now. Their legendary ambassador—we all know Sandy Roberts—described the listing as 'absolutely fantastic news'. Until now, this treatment cost $440,000 for a course of treatment, but now 1,400 Australians every year will be able to get access to it at affordable PBS prices. And we're making those scripts even cheaper. Already, Australians have saved $1.9 billion at the pharmacy counter because of our cheaper medicines measures. Pensioners have—

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