Trish Cook (Bullwinkel, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on a topic of vital importance and optimism: women's health. Women now comprise 56 per cent of the Australian Labor Party caucus. That is a record in and of itself, but it's also the reason why we have policies that better represent Australia. We have the most women in parliament and we have the most women in cabinet in history. This has led to different policies, different conversations, different discussions, different priorities and, of course, different funding.

For far too long, women's health has been overlooked, underfunded and left in the too-hard basket. The Albanese Labor government is changing that. We're not just talking about women's health; we're investing in it because we know that strengthening Medicare means strengthening health care for all Australians. Our government committed to delivering a historic $790 million for a women's health package. This will deliver more choice, lower costs and better access to care for women right across the country. This comprehensive investment is informed by extensive consultation with women, healthcare providers and advocacy groups. This is not a quick fix; this is a long-term plan for meaningful change. We are already well under way.

I'd like to talk about three initiatives under this funding. On contraception, a key part of this package was our focus on reproductive health and choice. For the first time in more than 30 years, we have listed new oral contraceptive pills on the PBS. To be clear, these are already-existing medications that were not available on the PBS. The listing of Yaz and Yasmin from 1 March and Slinda from 1 May will save thousands of women hundreds of dollars a year. We will also make long-acting reversible contraceptives cheaper with larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing for IUDs and implants. This will reduce out-of-pocket costs by up to $400, once again, for thousands of women across the country. This is a profound change for women, and it's making health care more accessible and affordable.

Another issue is drugs for women at a different age—menopause. We also addressed critical gaps in care for women experiencing menopause. Once again, we have new and better drugs that were not on the PBS system. We have listed, for the first time in over 20 years, new menopausal hormone therapies on the PBS. To be clear, they've been available for 20 years, but women have had to pay high costs for them. From 1 March, Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Prometrium were included on the PBS, once again saving women hundreds of dollars a year. With our National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025, which was passed yesterday, women will save more on oral contraception and menopause treatments, with the amount being capped at $25.

On health assessments, we have introduced a new Medicare rebate for menopause health assessments, along with funding to train health professionals and develop national clinical guidelines. In our last term, we opened 22 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, and this term we'll provide another 11 clinics and also expand those 33 clinics to provide specialised care for perimenopausal women and women going through menopause. This will provide a network of women's health support in every state and territory. This is about providing dignity and expert care for women who have been dismissed, misunderstood and mistreated for too long.

Additionally, we will make it easier to get essential care. Through two national trials, we have enabled 250,000 concession card holders to get contraceptives and treatments for uncomplicated UTIs directly from a trained pharmacist at no cost. These are not just figures on a page; these are real, tangible changes that will improve the lives of millions of women across Australia.