Renee Coffey (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) affirms the importance of Women's Health Week, held annually in the first week in September, as a national campaign led by Jean Hailes for Women's Health, promoting health awareness, education, and empowerment for women, girls, and gender-diverse people across Australia;

(2) celebrates the 2025 theme, 'Say yes to you', which encourages women to prioritise their health, speak up, and access the care they need, values that align with the Government's commitment to equity, dignity, and universal healthcare;

(3) acknowledges the systemic challenges women face in accessing timely, affordable, and appropriate healthcare, including underdiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis, pelvic pain, cardiovascular disease, and menopause-related symptoms;

(4) commends the Government for its historic investment of $793 million to strengthen Medicare and improve women's health outcomes, including:

(a) new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme listings for oral contraceptives and menopause hormone therapies;

(b) expanded bulk billing and Medicare rebates for long-acting reversible contraceptives and menopause health assessments;

(c) the establishment of 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, increasing the national total to 33 clinics; and

(d) national trials enabling pharmacists to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections, improving access for over 250,000 concession cardholders; and

(5) reaffirms this House's ongoing commitment to a fairer, stronger healthcare system that meets the needs of all Australians, especially women, through evidence-based policy, investment, and compassion.

This week is Women's Health Week, which is held annually in the first week of September. It's a national campaign led by Jean Hailes for Women's Health, a national non-profit organisation dedicated to improving women's health across Australia and through every stage of life. Women's Health Week promotes health awareness, education and empowerment for women, girls and gender-diverse people across Australia because, for too long, women's health has too often been overlooked, ignored and pushed to the side. This has been a result of historical neglect in research and care, leading to gender bias, medical misogyny and systemic inequities.

In 2023, the National Women's Health Advisory Council conducted the #EndGenderBias survey to better understand the unique barriers women face in Australia's healthcare system. From across the country, thousands of responses were received. Two-thirds of women reported that they experienced healthcare related gender bias and discrimination. These have a far-reaching impact on women's lives. Women reported feelings of abandonment, shame, blame and self-doubt; significant financial burden; lost educational and career opportunities; and delayed diagnosis and treatment, which led to disease progression, fewer treatments and worse health outcomes.

The 2025 theme of Women's Health Week is Say Yes to You, which encourages women to prioritise their health, speak up and access the care that they need. These values align strongly with our government's commitment to equity, dignity and universal health care. Improving the health and wellbeing of all women, girls and gender-diverse people is a key priority for the Australian government. We know that women's interactions with the healthcare system are different to that of men's. We know women spend more on out-of-pocket healthcare costs than men, and younger women spend more than men their age, partly due to maternity care and the higher prevalence of chronic illness. We know that women experience delayed diagnosis across a wide range of conditions and diseases.

This government, the continuation of Australia's first majority women government, understands and acknowledges there are systemic challenges women face in accessing timely, affordable and appropriate health care. That's why I'm so proud to acknowledge the groundbreaking women's healthcare package included in the 2025-26 budget. The Australian government is investing $792.9 million through the 2025-26 budget to increase the capacity of the primary care workforce to support women's health needs, increase access to services and make both services and medicines more affordable. This funding includes $159.9 million to make it easier for women in Australia to access affordable, long-acting, reversible contraception, one of the most effective and reliable methods of contraception.

We're also investing $64.5 million to improve access to more effective and high-quality models of care for endometriosis and pelvic pain, and perimenopause and menopause management and support. This includes 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics across Australia, bringing the total to 33 clinics and expanding their scope. We're developing national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause to support a national consistent approach for care and increasing awareness and access to education and training on perimenopause and menopause for health professionals.

We're investing $109.1 million to support women's health trials through pharmacists for the effective treatment of uncomplicated UTIs and access to contraceptives. These trials will make it easier for women to get the care they need from a pharmacist. We're investing $443.4 million for the listing of more medicines on the PBS, including oral contraceptive pills as well as menopausal hormone therapies. In addition, the oral contraceptive pills Slinda and Ryeqo for endometriosis were listed on the PBS from May this year.

This is what you can achieve when you have equal representation in our parliament—a government that deeply understands women's health and the challenges we face, because more than half of the representatives sitting on this side of the House are women. As of May 2025, women make up 56 per cent of the Australian Labor Party caucus in federal parliament, and this Albanese Labor government's cabinet is now the first-ever federal cabinet to be gender equal, with women comprising 11 of the 22 ministers. As Senator Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, explained earlier this year:

And when you have that, the conversations change. And we can see it not only in women's health, but we've been doing it in terms of women's wages, in terms of access to PPL, super on PPL, in women's safety, in women's sport, in housing for women.

This government has been working incredibly hard for the women of Australia. For generations women have fought to have their health recognised, respected and prioritised. Today, with this Labor government that truly reflects the voices of women, that change is happening. We will continue to stand with women every step of the way, ensuring their health and wellbeing are no longer left behind.

Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Tim Wilson (Goldstein, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you for the opportunity to speak on this important motion on Women's Health Week. It is a good opportunity to speak about the importance of women's health, obviously affecting a large section of the population, and the importance of bringing it to national importance as part of this parliament's work. Women's health is central to the longevity and full quality of life that we need to make sure the citizens of our community have.

Women's Health Week, held annually in the first week of September as a national campaign led by Jean Hailes for women's health, is promoting health awareness, education and empowerment for women, girls and gender-diverse people across Australia. It celebrates the 2025 theme, 'Say yes to you', which encourages women to prioritise their health, to speak up and to access the care that they desperately need—values that align with the government's commitment around equity, dignity and universal health care, which is shared across the political aisle because we all want to see the best health outcomes for Australians. Making sure that we can access health services that Australians need is incredibly important for making sure that our citizens live out the best of their lives, as is making sure that people get support over the full length of their life cycle.

Chronic conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome have a deep impact on people's daily lives and work and their capacity to live a quality of life and personal relationships. We know that in Australia approximately one in seven women are diagnosed with endometriosis by the age of 44 to 49, and around 8.8 per cent are diagnosed by the age of 26 to 31. It affects around five to 13 per cent of reproductive age women, depending on their diagnostic criteria. Diagnosis often takes six to eight years, with sufferers encountering dismissive care and enduring emotional and physical strain. This is not something that is unique to any section of the community.

In the Goldstein electorate, the 52 per cent of female residents have a median age of around 43 years. A Goldstein constituent who wants to remain anonymous contacted the Goldstein office recently to share her specific experience. She lives with both endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome and faces debilitating pain, extensive medical appointments, financial strain from allied health costs and telehealth fees, and the excruciating prospect of considering surgical intervention due to a lack of accessible and affordable care. She wrote to the Goldstein office about the devastating reality of these chronic conditions; the relentless pain and fatigue; and the need to constantly juggle multiple medical appointments, often during business hours, forcing her to choose between her health and her income. Despite the promises of making sure that there would be full access to healthcare services, that isn't always something that's actually being delivered to people in the community and being realised.

She is 28 years old and still very much in youth, the prime of her life, yet she is already being forced to consider surgical removal of an ovary, not solely for medical reasons but because the financial cost of ongoing care is becoming unsustainable for her. This, of course, is not something anybody would wish for any woman, let alone somebody so young, at such a tender age in their lives. We always look forward to the future with hope, and we hope that she does as well because, as difficult as her challenges are—we are not seeking in any way to diminish them—there must always be hope about your healthcare journey and making sure you can live out the best of your life. We wish her all the best on her journey.

This year, the theme of 2025 Women's Health Week is, 'Say yes to you', and that's why it's important to make sure you prioritise your health in this important week. It's not about being selfish; it's actually about doing the right thing by yourself, so you can be there not just for yourself but for your loved ones, for your family, for your friends and for the other people in your care network. It's so important to make sure that you are your best self and able to contribute the most to those in your broader network. The reality is that too many people wait too long to get the support and assistance they need. When they delay appointments, whether because of out-of-pocket costs or because they have barriers around time commitments or capacity to access services, it places a bigger long-term health consequence on them that can have longer-term consequences.

Making sure that dignity is at the centre of all healthcare policy is incredibly important, and women shouldn't be left behind on this important journey where we are making sure that health care serves everybody. Investment is not just about fairness in healthcare; it's about making sure people can live out their full dignity and their full participation in society, in the economy and, of course, in their family. Today is an opportunity to take stock, but also to be part of the solution.

Emma Comer (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This week is Women's Health Week, and the theme is 'Say yes to you'. It's a powerful reminder that women so often put themselves last. Between work, caring for children, supporting partners and looking after ageing parents, women are the ones who hold families and communities together—but too often that means putting their own health on the back burner. 'Say yes to you' is about encouraging women to take that time to book a check-up, to follow up on that referral and to put their own wellbeing first, because, when women are healthy, whole communities are healthy.

When Labor came into government, we made a clear commitment that women's health would no longer be treated as an afterthought. For too long, policies and programs were designed with a one-size-fits-all approach—and that size rarely fits women. Labor is listening to women. We've established the National Women's Health Advisory Council, that brings together experts, advocates and women with lived experience, making sure women's voices shape the policies that affect them. We're investing in women's reproductive health. That includes funding to expand access to clinics for endometriosis and pelvic pain, conditions that have been dismissed and underdiagnosed. For the first time, women don't have to suffer in silence. We are also increasing access to contraception and reproductive health services so that women have greater choice and control over their own bodies.

Women's pain is too often dismissed and swept under the rug. Today, I met with one of my constituents, Rachel, who was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer at 38. Her GP dismissed her pains. After a year of fatigue and stomach pains, she was admitted to the ED with stage 3 bowel cancer. Rachel was having symptoms of fatigue, which were attributed to the fact that she's a busy mother. This is a story that is too common. I also met with Kelly, who had constant medical challenges for four years before being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. We know the facts. On average, it takes seven years for a woman with endometriosis to be properly diagnosed; seven years of being told their period pain was just part of being a woman; seven years of missing school, missing work and missing out on life, while the health system failed to listen.

It's not just endometriosis. Studies show that women are less likely than men to be given adequate pain relief in emergency rooms. Women presenting with heart attack symptoms are more likely to be misdiagnosed. Conditions like menopause and pelvic pain were barely researched, because the system didn't think they were important enough.

This is what happens when there are no women at the decision-making table. When half the population hasn't been properly represented in parliament, it's no surprise that issues like endometriosis, pelvic pain, menopause or the cost of contraception were pushed to the bottom of the pile for decades. They were underdiagnosed, and support was not prioritised. These are real issues that affect millions of Australians every single day.

For the first time in our nation's history, we have a female majority caucus. We have a cabinet where women hold critical portfolios in finance, in sport and in foreign affairs. When women are in the room, women's experiences are heard. This representation matters. It means that, when a woman talks about waiting 10 years for an endometriosis diagnosis, there are MPs and senators who nod, because they've lived it. When women share stories of juggling child care, work and caring for elderly parents while managing their own health, there are ministers who don't just sympathise; they understand from personal experience.

That empathy, that lived experience, transforms into policy priorities. It's why Labor has funded specialised endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics across the country. It's why we're expanding Medicare coverage for reproductive and maternal health. It's why women's health is not a side note in our health policy; it's front and centre.

Representation also ensures accountability. Women in caucus push for women in the community. They make sure the government doesn't let these issues slide back into the too-hard basket and keep women's health on the national agenda. It's worth remembering that women's health has always been undervalued not because it isn't important but because the people with the power to set priorities didn't see themselves in it. Changing who sits at the table changes what's on the agenda. Representation matters. It matters because it leads directly to outcomes—outcomes that change lives, outcomes that save lives—and under Labor, with more women in parliament than ever before, we are finally starting to close the gap on decades of neglect in women's health.

Fiona Phillips (Gilmore, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am really proud to stand up today to talk about some of the incredible women's health initiatives that the Albanese Labor government is backing in my electorate of Gilmore. The South-Eastern Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic, located in Milton, is an essential health service that is changing the lives of women. Since the doors opened in September 2023, hundreds of women whose symptoms have been ignored for many years or even decades have gained a new sense of hope. I've spoken with women of all ages who have told me that for the first time their symptoms have been taken seriously by the wonderful Milton team, led by Dr Katie Macartney and specialist women's health nurse Susan Wilford. The team provides accessible specialist health support in a safe place. They take the time to really listen to and validate women.

As a wife and mother of four, I understand how women can struggle with a range of health conditions. We are so busy with work and families that we often put ourselves last and just put up with the pain. As we kick off Women's Health Week, I encourage all Australian women to slow down and take the time to look after yourselves. Check your boobs, have that pap smear and talk to your health professional. Don't give up if you don't get the answer you're looking for straightaway.

One woman aged in her 40s went to see the team at the south-eastern New South Wales clinic, and she was given fresh hope after living with pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, bowel changes and sleep disturbance for 30 years. She required surgery, and is now receiving ongoing care to assist with pain management, including pain reprocessing therapy, pelvic floor function, defecation dynamics training, and strategies to unwind the body and mind, such as yoga. She has returned to work, has a better relationship with her partner, and is feeling healthier and happier than she has for three decades. It's essential that women with endometriosis symptoms receive good support and a timely diagnosis—even better, that they can access that help close to home.

Endometriosis and other pelvic issues can have a devastating impact on women's daily lives. They wait an average of seven years before diagnosis. I'm so pleased that as part of the Albanese Labor government's $792.9 million women's health package, 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics will open across the nation.

I am also immensely proud that Australia's first Aboriginal-owned and midwifery-led Birthing on Country Centre of Excellence is now under construction in Nowra. The purpose-built hub will provide culturally safe and continuative midwifery care, including antenatal, birthing and postnatal support for Aboriginal women and their families. I've been working towards this facility alongside the amazing team at Waminda, the South-Coast women's Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation for almost a decade, and have always supported their vision to improve outcomes for local Indigenous women and children. I'm so proud to have delivered $22.5 million from the Albanese Labor government for construction of the state-of-the-art centre, which is expected to welcome its first baby in mid-2026. Waminda is a dynamic organisation, deeply embedded in our community, and its birthing on country centre will ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families get the best possible maternity care for generations to come.

We know that birthing on country leads to significantly better health outcomes for First Nations mothers and babies. It improves maternal and perinatal outcomes, including attending more antenatal visits, being less likely to have a premature birth and being more likely to exclusively breastfeed. The new facility will be a wonderful asset for not only women across the South Coast but also women right around Australia who seek to give birth on country, to whom its doors will be open.

During Women's Health Week, I want to congratulate the dedicated team at Waminda and everyone involved in establishing what will be the most comprehensive Aboriginal led birthing-on-country service in the world. I want to express how proud I am to be part of the Albanese Labor government—the first majority-women government that is finally taking women's health seriously.

Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.