Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

LLACE () (): My question is to the Prime Minister. On 31 July, the Montville Pharmacy in my electorate of Fisher was forced to close as a direct result of the increased costs of doing business and in anticipation of the commencement of Labor's community pharmacy changes.

Government members: It hasn't come in yet!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Fisher will resume his seat. Members on my right! The minister for infrastructure, the minister for water and the Minister for Indigenous Australians: I've been pretty clear about listening to members and being heard in silence. Out of respect for the member for Fisher, he will begin his question again and there will be silence on my right. The member for Fisher has the call.

Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, on 31 July the Montville Pharmacy in my electorate of Fisher was forced to close as a direct result of the increased costs of doing business and in anticipation of the commencement of Labor's community pharmacy changes. Montville has also recently lost its only doctor. Prime Minister, how will the people of Montville and rural and regional towns across the country obtain access to cheaper medicines when there are no community pharmacies left in the bush to dispense them?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

ALBANESE (—) (): I note the nature of the question from the member opposite. These changes come in from September. What he's saying is—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Fisher has asked the question. I can't hear the Prime Minister.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

somehow the changes also—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Deakin and the member for Hume: I can't hear what the Prime Minister is saying.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If he had followed the debate he would know that just one-third of the changes come in in September. Then there's a further change in March—I think that's correct—of next year and then a further change six months later on.

I myself have met with the Pharmacy Guild, as well as other pharmacists in my own electorate, about these issues. That's why we're continuing to have discussions and why the health minister announced additional support for pharmacies as part of the program.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Acting Leader will cease interjecting please.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's important to recognise here that this is about making a difference on the cost of living. The idea that you'd deliberately keep costs to consumers high as a conscious strategy is one that, frankly, I believe is indefensible. That's why it was recommended to those opposite in 2018 that that be the case. The fact is that this is about cheaper medicine for six million Australians, and if those opposite want to stand for more-expensive medicines for six million Australians, then let them know that that is the case. Six million Australians—people in cities, people in regions—will all pay for this policy. Yet again undermining the PBS, yet again pushing up the cost of living for millions of Australians—the Liberal Party never miss a chance to try and make Australians pay more for the health care that they need. They never miss a chance. We on this side will always stand up for help with the cost of living, and we'll always be the party of cheaper medicine as well.

Mike Freelander (Macarthur, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You could do the simple thing and ask the patients what they want!

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Macarthur is warned.

Opposition members inter jecting—

Order! There is far too much noise on my left. If that continues, it will be warned. One warning, and then you'll remove yourself under 94(a).