For far too long, women's health has been overlooked, underfunded and in many cases misunderstood. We believe that women's health is central not only to gender equality but for community and economic wellbeing, which is why it is at the heart of this government's agenda. A woman's ability to get the healthcare she needs should never depend on how much money you have, the postcode that you live in or how many times you are prepared to ask for some sort of medical care. Yet too many women know what it means to put their own health last—to postpone that appointment because of cost, to maybe keep working through the pain, to leave a consultation feeling their concerns weren't really heard.

That's why this government is investing in women's health. It's about making care more affordable, giving women greater choice and building a health system that takes their needs seriously. Through our historic $792 million women's health package, the Albanese government is investing in contraception, in endometriosis treatments and in supporting women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. These are practical changes that reach into everyday lives of women around this country.

Think about contraception. Choosing the right contraception is a personal decision made with the appropriate medical advice, but when cost limits that option that choice becomes smaller. We have added new contraceptive pills to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the first new pill listing in more than 30 years. We've also increased Medicare support for the insertion and removal of intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants, helping reduce the upfront financial barriers for these options. For a young woman studying, a mother managing household expenses or someone working a casual shift, a lower health bill can make a meaningful difference. The principle is pretty straightforward: women deserve to make decisions about their bodies based on their health needs and preferences with affordable options available to them.

Then there's the endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain clinics. We should ask ourselves what it means when someone begins to organise their life around pain. She worries about missing work. She may cancel a plan when she wonders whether she'll be taken seriously again when she asks for help. Women deserve a clear pathway to assessment, treatment and ongoing support. Labor's expanded network now includes 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics across Australia, which also support women experiencing perimenopause and menopause. Brisbane's first GP endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic is operating out of Toowong and is supporting women across the Brisbane electorate, giving them the care that they need. A clinic can't promise every woman an immediate answer, but what it can do is provide access to care that recognises her symptoms and helps her navigate the treatment options in a meaningful way forward.

The same commitment must extend to menopause. For too long, we've expected women to manage this stage of life quietly, often while juggling demands of jobs, family responsibilities and care responsibilities. Women should be able to discuss their symptoms openly and receive the care suited to their individual circumstances. Since July last year, Medicare has supported dedicated menopause and perimenopausal health assessments and we've also expanded access to subsidised menopausal hormonal therapies alongside investment in professional training and better information. That means more opportunity for a proper conversation about what a woman is experiencing, the options that are available and the support that she needs.

We can already point to practical results. In September, the data revealed that more than one million women had access to cheaper medicines for contraception, menopause and endometriosis, filling out more than four million scripts and saving over $150 million collectively. Those savings matter. They matter for households who are paying rents, mortgages, groceries and electricity bills, but we must also be honest. Money committed and prescriptions filled cannot be our only measures of success. Women have to be able to get appointments. They have to, yes, afford their treatment but also understand their options and actually get in the door.

Our responsibility as a government is to keep asking where the gaps are in women's health and keep working to close them because women's health affects every part of their life and our lives: education, employment, relationships, family and financial security. Investing in women's health is an investment in women's freedom to live the lives they choose, and it's investment in families and their communities.