Ali France (Dickson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For decades, women's health has been ignored or belittled. I was told in my late 40s that my tiredness was probably diet related and that I should increase my iron intake. I was told my migraines, which I had never had before, were probably the result of stress. Looking back, I was in perimenopause. I'm now aged 52. I am in my menopause era, and I am one of the tens of thousands of women who are benefiting from the Albanese Labor government's record women's health package. I am taking all of the things available to mitigate the symptoms and live a productive, happy life. Getting the diagnosis and initial treatment cost me over $1,000. I've been paying about $800 a year for medications over the past few years. Now, as a result of Albanese Labor government's $800 million women's health package, the annual cost has halved for me.

Today, I was proud to join my Labor caucus colleagues to announce that another contraceptive has been added to the PBS. From November 1, the NuvaRing will cost just $31.60 per script or $7.70 for concessional patients. From January, that cost drops even further to $25. What once cost $270 a year will now cost just $25. I'm proud to be part of a government that listens, acts and delivers for Australian women.