Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

For decades, women and girls were told to endure pain, to accept discomfort as normal and to wait sometimes decades for answers. Too often their symptoms were minimised, too often their concerns were dismissed, and too often the cost of care placed essential treatment out of reach. I was one of those women. I suffered from very heavy periods, debilitating pain and pelvic concerns from the age of around 14. It remained as a painful condition until my late 30s, when an understanding GP took an interest and referred me to the appropriate specialists. I know that I'm not alone in my own experience, and certainly, when I have shared my experience with my comment, women and girls from across all aged have told me about their own experiences, with many still suffering in silence. That is why I am so proud to stand here as the federal member for Bonner and to celebrate Labor's almost $800 million investment in women's health. It has now been a year since it was first introduced, and it represents the largest investment in women's health in Australia's history. It's delivering more choice. It's delivering lower costs and better care for women and girls right across our country. We are already seeing real and measurable outcomes.

Since introducing this historic package, more than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS scripts for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. For the first time in more than 30 years new contraceptive pills have been added to the PBS, helping 328,000 women save more than $27 million across 660,000 scripts. Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that significantly reduce the cost of care. And, of course, since January we have seen PBS script prices drop to just $25—the lowest medicine prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for all Australians, but particularly for Australian women and their families.

March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. It is a time to shine a light on a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects one in seven women. More than one million Australians suffer from endometriosis. Recent national coverage has once again highlighted the lived experiences of women battling this condition. The years of pain, the dismissal, the delayed diagnosis and, most recently, the appalling treatment of women at the hands of medical professionals. On average, women wait seven years for a diagnosis. Hospitalisation rates among young women aged 20 to 24 have doubled over the past decade. These are not just statistics; they represent disrupted education, interrupted careers and diminished quality of life.

For too long people with endometriosis have suffered in silence and that is simply not good enough. Early intervention is critical, evidence based care is essential and access should never depend on your postcode. That is why the Albanese Labor government has expanded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics nationwide, delivering 11 new clinics and taking the national network to 33 clinics across Australia. Of those, 30 are already operational, improving access in both regional and metropolitan communities.

In my community, we are also set to benefit directly from this investment. A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic opened in Oxley in late January. It already has active patients, and is continuing to grow. This clinic will support more women in my community of Bonner to get the diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care they need closer to home without the long wait times and financial strain. These clinics are not only treating endometriosis; they are also improving health care and education around perimenopause and menopause.

These reforms represent more than a funding announcement; they represent a cultural shift. They say to Australian women: 'Your health matters. Your pain is real. Your experiences deserve recognition, research and reform. Labor is here for you and delivering for you.' I'm proud of this package, and I'm proud to stand here as part of the Albanese Labor government.

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