Claire Clutterham (Sturt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Twelve months ago today, the Albanese Labor government announced a record $800 million investment into a women's health package designed to provide more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls. One year on, the data is in: more than 660,000 women have accessed more than two million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment that were listed on the PBS. It is not one-size-fits-all when it comes to contraception, and more than 303,000 women have saved over $23 million in the past 12 months on scripts for a wide range of options. This level of choice is so important because every woman's health needs are different and unique to her.

Considered and deliberate changes to make Medicare work better for women mean that over 71,000 women have undergone a menopause health assessment since 1 July 2025. Australian women are also benefiting from new Medicare items for longer consultation times and higher rebates for specialised gynaecological care. An additional 11 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics have opened, with these new clinics providing perimenopause and menopause care. Dedicated investment in women's health happens when women have a seat at the table and can speak up for the needs of other women. With 57 per cent women in the Labor caucus, women have a seat at this table, which means they know their healthcare needs will be spoken for.