Basem Abdo (Calwell, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the Health Legislation Amendment (Prescribing of Pharmaceutical Benefits) Bill. This reform reflects our government's ongoing commitment to maintaining and strengthening the services that millions of Australians rely on each and every day.

In my electorate, interactions with our healthcare system is a lived experience for many. It is something many people live with and seek access to every single day. It determines whether people can get to work, whether children can stay focused at school, whether students can attend their lectures and complete their studies, and whether older Australians can age with dignity, security and continuity of care. The belief that health care should be universal, accessible, affordable and of high quality is a core principle for members on this side of the House. That is why we made a clear commitment to prioritising a range of practical reforms that enable health professionals to deliver timely, accessible and effective care, and this bill does exactly that.

This legislation amends the National Health Act to let appropriately trained and endorsed registered nurses to prescribe certain medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, ensuring that those medicines attract Commonwealth subsidy and remain affordable for patients. This is a critical follow-up to the reforms introduced in December 2024, which established a new registration standard to enable qualified nurses to become designated registered nurse prescribers of medicines.

Right across my electorate people tell me a familiar story. They are working hard. They are raising families. They are caring for ageing parents and relatives. For them, accessible health care plays an essential role in their day-to-day lives. We do not believe rising costs and a system perpetually under strain are inevitable. We believe they can be changed, reformed and strengthened. That is why it is so important to break down barriers that prevent families from accessing the health care they need. That's why, in allowing designated registered nurse prescribers to prescribe PBS subsidised medicines, we make better use of the skilled workforce already serving in our communities. We reduce unnecessary delays and we expand the access so people can get the treatment they need when they need it and at a price they can afford. This reform does not lower standards, it does not replace doctors and it does not compromise patient safety. It is carefully designed, nationally regulated and built on years of consultation and evidence.

Since 2017, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, working alongside the Australian Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, has undertaken extensive research and consultation on how registered nurses can safely and effectively contribute to improved health outcomes by working to their full scope of practice. That process has been deliberate and it has been sustained. It has involved regulators, clinicians, educators, medical organisations, primary care stakeholders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health representatives. That matters, because health reform works best when it is done with the workforce not at the workforce. The national registration standard that underpins this bill reflects that approach. It is evidence based, nationally consistent and designed with patient safety as its priority.

When people ask whether this reform has been properly considered, the answer is clear: it has been years in the making. It is also important to note that consultation is not a process for its own sake. It's about confidence, it's about uptake and it's about adoption. Even the most carefully designed reform will fail if the workforce does not trust it, if employers do not understand it or if patients are unsure about it. Through consultation led by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia since 2017, designated nurse prescribing has been shaped into a model that clinicians understand, employers can support and patients can trust. The registration standard clearly sets out education requirements, clinical governance arrangements and partnership models. That clarity gives nurses confidence to step into these roles safely. It gives employers confidence to implement them responsibly, and it gives patients confidence that the care they receive is properly regulated and accountable. Many Australians rely on nurses as their most regular point of contact with the health system. When reforms are clearly explained, nationally consistent and professionally endorsed, people are far more likely to engage with the healthcare system early rather than delay treatment.

The Albanese Labor government's commitment to breaking down barriers to accessing health care neither starts nor ends here. Since coming into government, we have taken decisive action to strengthen our health system and expand access to care for all Australians. This bill builds on another major reform that came into effect that started this year: cheaper medicines on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. From 1 January, the Albanese Labor government capped the cost of PBS medicines at $25, the lowest price since 2004. We've also continued to cap the cost of PBS medicines for pensioners and concession card holders at $7.70. This is policy designed to improve access to health care while also taking real action on the cost of living. It reduces barriers for families across the country when it comes to accessing prescription medicines. This is good health policy and good economic policy, because we know that, when people delay taking their medication, it leads to poorer health outcomes and an increase in the dependency patients have on our health system across the board and into the future.

Our government has not only made medicines cheaper. We have also made it easier and more affordable to access in-person primary care. Since coming to government, the Albanese Labor government has rolled out Medicare urgent care clinics right across Australia. These clinics are playing a vital role in providing timely access to care while relieving pressure on our emergency hospital departments. This model of primary care helps free up emergency departments and general practices across the country, reducing wait times, and gives patients and their families more options when they need it. We have also expanded Medicare with 24/7 over-the-phone medical support at no out-of-pocket cost, 100 per cent bulk-billed, through 1800MEDICARE. On this side of the House, we understand that health care is accessed in different ways and at different times. Our policies reflect that reality and ensure care is accessible when Australians need it.

I'm proud of these reforms, and the truth is that none of them would be possible without our record investment in Medicare. Medicare is the foundation of Australia's health system. It's not just a green card. It is access to world-class, reliable, affordable and dignified care. Labor understands the value of Medicare today just as we did 42 years ago, when Medicare was launched in 1984 by the Hawke Labor government. It was Labor that rebuilt our universal health system after attacks on Medibank, another Labor reform introduced by the Whitlam Labor government. Labor made Medicare, and it is Labor that will always fight to protect and strengthen it. Once again, it has fallen to a Labor government to repair Medicare after a decade of neglect by those opposite, a decade in which Liberals viewed health care through the lens of ideology and profit. It seems that culture of neglect has not left them even in opposition, as they remain consumed by internal squabbles, internal division and an inward-looking focus on themselves rather than a vision for Australia defined by opportunity and possibility.

When I was first elected, fewer than 40 per cent of general practices in my electorate bulk-billed. Today, that figure stands at 90 per cent, more than doubling. That is an extraordinary achievement that is only possible under a Labor government and a Labor government delivering on its commitments and true to the values which guide it. I've visited clinics in my community that have taken up our bulk-billing incentives, including the Craigieburn Medical and Dental Centre, which moved to 100 per cent bulk-billing following our reforms. I visited the centre alongside Minister Butler and met the dedicated health professionals delivering primary care and working collaboratively with the Northern Hospital in mitigating risks to patients. What stood out was their commitment to serving our community, particularly our most vulnerable residents, and the importance of governments backing them with real investment.

This past weekend, I was pleased to join the team at the Annadale Family Medical Centre as it reopened after having been out of operation following a tragic fire. It returned to deliver fully bulk-billed medical and allied health care to our community. I give a shout-out to the team there and to the team at Happy Hippo Kindergarten and Childcare in Mickleham. Medical care and child care are essential services families in my community rely on and two things our government is proudly delivering on. That is what real, effective and on-the-ground policy looks like, translated on the ground with organisations in our community doing amazing work in helping local families thrive.

This remarkable turnaround in bulk-billing in my community reflects what is happening across the country. Our government's investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits annually. It will see the number of bulk-billing practices triple to around 4,800 nationally, with nine out of 10 GP visits bulk-billed by 2030. This bill is about making our health system work better for the people who rely on it not in theory but in practice. It recognises that the demand on the health system is real, but it rejects the idea that inaction is the only response. It makes sensible use of the skills already present in our workforce, supports safe and regulated care and removes unnecessary barriers that delay treatment and drive up costs for patients and the system alike. By enabling appropriately trained registered nurses to prescribe PBS subsidised medicines, we improve access, reduce pressure elsewhere in the system, ensure Australians can get the care they need when they need it and expand our healthcare system in sustainable ways. That is good policy. It is responsible reform and it is exactly the kind of practical change our communities expect from their government. This bill builds on a broader agenda: strengthening Medicare, lowering the cost of medicines, expanding bulk-billing and improving access to primary care right across the country. Together, these reforms are about protecting the integrity of our universal healthcare system and ensuring it remains fit for purpose.

Yesterday, I joined nurses in parliament in support of primary healthcare nurses. They reminded us of the value of patients when nurses are trusted to work to their full scope of practice, something this legislation helps deliver. They reminded us that nurses don't choose this profession because of buildings or systems, but because of a deep commitment to care. And they reminded us that, when illness shrinks a person's world and when fear, uncertainty and vulnerability take hold, nurses are there—present, skilled, compassionate, delivering care when it is needed most and in the ways that matter most. That is the magic of this profession, and it is why this parliament must do everything it can to support nurses to do what they do best: care for people with dignity, skill and humanity. Health care should never depend on where you live, how busy the system is or how long you can afford to wait. This legislation moves us closer to a system that is fairer, more efficient and more responsive to the realities Australians face every day. I commend the bill to the House.

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