Julie-Ann Campbell (Moreton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House notes that:

(1) twelve months into the landmark $792.9 million women's health package, the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls; and

(2) since the announcement, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than 2 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

When you come into this place at the beginning of any given sitting day, when the opening of the parliament happens, you only have to look around you: the 48th Parliament has a record-breaking number of women representatives. The Labor caucus is 56 per cent women, and, for the first time, cabinet has more women than men. Women are drivers of our national economy, women are drivers of our local communities and now women are drivers of the places where we make laws for this country.

This representation means that this parliament mirrors the gender make-up of the broader Australian population more closely than ever before. For the first time, parliament is starting to look like the people we represent, parliament is starting to look like the communities that we call home and parliament is starting to look like Australia. Crucially, it broadens the perspectives shaping policy, boosting work on priorities such as safety, workplace equality, families and health.

It's health that I want to talk about today. We recently marked 12 months of the Albanese Labor government's landmark women's health package, a package worth nearly $800 million, representing the largest single investment in women's health in the history of this nation. I want to pay tribute to the member for Cooper and the member for Lyons for their work in making that package become a reality. This package is enabling expanded access to essential health services. It's delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for women and girls nationwide. It pulls women's health out of those dark corners, it pulls it out of taboo and it pulls it out of the hushed conversations and into the sunlight.

It's important because it means women's health is a national priority. It is addressing longstanding gaps in access, affordability and specialised care, and it is ensuring that women receive timely, evidence based health care that was previously out of reach for so many. This not only improves individual wellbeing but supports women's participation in work and in the economy as well. For the first time in 20 years a new hormone therapy for menopause was listed on the PBS, and, for the first time in 30 years, a new contraceptive pill was listed. That's right—women went without additions to the PBS for these medicines for decades. These additions have already seen 383,000 women save $53 million across 1.6 million menopause therapy scripts, and 328,000 women have saved more than $27 million on 660,000 contraceptive pill scripts.

The package's focus on support for women and girls with endometriosis has had a significant impact too. It builds on work already undertaken by the Albanese Labor government in 2024, such as funding for Southside based QENDO for its national endometriosis mentor program, providing crucial peer support. I'm very proud to have one of QENDO's pioneers in MacGregor in my electorate, Jude Perryn, who has put in close to 40 years of advocacy for women facing endometriosis. Now not only have 7,000 women saved $5.7 million on 30,000 scripts; they've benefited from the rollout of 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. We're also expanding the role of several clinics so that they can offer perimenopause and menopause services, with the first of these enhanced clinics already seeing patients and the rest set to come online in the first half of the year.

We've introduced Medicare funded menopause health assessments, and these have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women, reflecting the often complex nature of conditions and additional supports required. This year the government will roll out Australia's first national awareness campaign on perimenopause and menopause, finally giving women the recognition and the clear information they have gone far too long without. We're supporting the development of Australia's first national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause—crucial for ongoing evidence based care. This historic women's health package provides support for women across a range of women's health conditions that were simply never discussed before.

Marion Scrymgour (Lingiari, 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.

Melissa McIntosh (Lindsay, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the motion, noting that it has been 12 months since the commencement of the bipartisan women's health package. This is a package that had the support of both major parties in this place and that built on the significant work undertaken by the former coalition government to improve health outcomes for Australian women. The coalition supported the package, which is an expansion of the historic commitments we made in government to support women's health.

Women's health has always been a priority for the coalition, which is why we launched the National Women's Health Strategy 2020-2030 to improve long-term health outcomes for women and girls. In May 2022, in line with that strategy, the coalition announced our historic investment for endometriosis, which led to the establishment of Australia's first endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge two former colleagues—Nola Marino, the member for Forrest; and Nicolle Flint, the member for Boothby—who spearheaded the push through the last parliament to secure the commitment to establish these historic clinics. We welcome the government's decision to expand on this work with 11 new endometriosis clinics.

Prior to the last election, the coalition announced that we would match this important women's health package, including measures to enhance menopause care for women through the new Medicare rebate, expand health professional training, develop national clinical guidelines and increase funding for endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. Whether it is helping women who live with chronic health conditions like endo, supporting women through menopause or helping families on their fertility journey, we are committed to getting the policy settings right and we know this must be above politics.

In Lindsay, in my community and right across Western Sydney, these issues are very real. Women in my community face barriers when it comes to getting timely treatment for chronic conditions and navigating a health system that can feel hard to access, especially for women from culturally diverse backgrounds or those doing it tough. Local research from Western Sydney University shows these gaps clearly. While services across Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, including Nepean Hospital, do vital work for women, demand is high and access is becoming harder. One of the things that stands out for me in Western Sydney is that only 29 per cent of women eligible for cervical cancer screening are getting screened. This is against the national benchmark of 70 per cent.

We welcome the fact that Australian women have accessed more affordable scripts for new contraceptives, therapies and treatments listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme over the past 12 months. But we urge the government to ensure that they are continuing the coalition's longstanding policy of listing all medicines and treatments that have been recommended by PBAC on the PBS and to do so in a timely manner.

It must be noted that the Albanese government waited more than 12 months to finally progress a recommendation for Ryeqo, an important treatment for endo, and to list this potentially life-changing medication on the PBS. It was simply not good enough to leave women suffering from endometriosis waiting for more than a year for affordable access to this medication after it had been recommended for listing. We do not want to see this government's mismanagement of the PBS result in Australian women waiting longer than necessary for access to potentially life-changing care.

The coalition also remains concerned that, under the Albanese government, it has never been harder or more expensive for Australian women to access critical primary care. Patients are now paying more than $50 on average out of pocket to see a GP under Labor's cost-of-living crisis, the highest out-of-pocket costs in Medicare's history. In Lindsay, only 51 per cent of GP clinics bulk-bill, despite what the health minister claims, which means that for many women the question is no longer whether they should see a doctor but whether they can afford to. Australian women must have timely and affordable access to health advice and check-ups, particularly if they are managing debilitating conditions like menopause and endometriosis or undertaking the important journey of starting a family.

Getting access to cheaper medicines is only one part of ensuring women can get the care they need. We want to ensure that women across Australia can access care that not only is affordable but also understands their experience and needs. We will continue to hold the government to account for delays, for delivery failures and for rising costs that are undermining access to care for Australian women. Australian women deserve a health system that works for them at every stage of their life.

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

Women's health in Australia has too often been treated as a niche issue, as if half the population were somehow an afterthought. For too long, women were told their pain was normal, their symptoms were hormonal and their concerns were exaggerated. The Albanese Labor government is changing that. We are backing women's health with action, with reform and with nearly $800 million in real investment through our historic women's health package, and we are already seeing the results.

More than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS prescriptions for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. That includes the first new contraceptive pill listed on the PBS in more than 30 years, alongside two additional contraceptive options. In all, 328,000 women have saved more than $27 million on 660,000 scripts. For women managing menopause, the first new menopausal hormone therapies in over 20 years are now listed, and 383,000 women have saved $53 million across 1.6 million scripts. Of the more than one in seven women living with endometriosis—my wife is one of them—over 7,000 women have accessed 30,000 scripts, saving $5.7 million on treatment that previously put enormous financial pressures on families. Women undergoing IVF now have earlier and more affordable access to treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that lower the cost of fertility care. Since January this year, PBS medicines cost just $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders. Those are the lowest prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for Australian women.

But women's health is not just about medicines; it's about access, recognition and proper care. That is why from 1 July 2025 Medicare funded menopause health assessments became available. More than 71,000 women have already accessed these dedicated consultations, receiving the time and support they deserve at a critical stage of life. We have introduced new Medicare items and higher rebates for gynaecological care, making longer consultations for more complex issues accessible and more affordable. Around 430,000 additional services have now been delivered for women with endometriosis, PCOS, chronic pelvic pain and other conditions, backed by a $49 million national investment. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access, with larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing saving women up to $400 a year.

We are building an Australia-wide support system that simply did not exist before. Thirty of the 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics are now operational, with 11 new clinics delivered under this government. These clinics are expanding to provide perimenopause and menopause care, recognising that women's health is not siloed; it is lifelong. We are funding Australia's first national clinical guidelines for perimenopause and menopause, ensuring consistent evidence-based care no matter where a woman lives. This year, Australia will see its first national awareness campaign for menopause and perimenopause, giving women information and recognition they have been denied for decades.

We are also making it easier for women to receive directly from pharmacies treatment for uncomplicated UTIs, including trials benefiting 250,000 concession card holders, who can consult a trained pharmacist at no cost. We have expanded PBS access for IVF medicines like Pergoveris pens, increasing the maximum number per script and lowering out-of-pocket costs for women trying to start to grow their families.

These reforms matter nationally, but they also matter locally. In the north of Adelaide, in my electorate of Spence, we have seen firsthand what targeted women's health investment looks like. Perinatal health has often gone unspoken about. When a time that can be filled with such joy and celebration turns dark, many struggle to know where to go and what to do. That is why the Elizabeth Clinic is providing specialised, compassionate care to women and families during pregnancy and in the postnatal period, as well as for perinatal health, supporting mothers at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Many parents experience anxiety, depression or emotional distress during the perinatal period. Our perinatal mental health centre in Elizabeth provides that support in a welcoming, non-judgemental way. This kind of service is not a luxury; it is essential. I'm extremely proud of the work the Albanese Labor government is doing.

Monique Ryan (Kooyong, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I commend the member for Moreton on this motion. It's true that the additional PBS listings announced in last year's budget do develop and deliver more affordable options for contraception and for the treatment of menopause and endometriosis. These listings represent real gains for Australian women and girls. But, while these reforms mark genuine progress, we still have a long way to go before we ensure that all women receive safe gynaecological care in this country.

Endometriosis affects about one in seven Australian girls, women and those assigned female at birth. It's a debilitating condition which can cause chronic pain and infertility. Endometriosis can be hard to diagnose and hard to treat. Symptoms can overlap with other conditions. Sometimes, surgery is required for diagnosis. Women living with endometriosis, like all patients across Australia, deserve best practice evidence-based care.

Mr Simon Gordon was, until recently, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Epworth Freemasons, the largest private hospital in Victoria. It's recently been alleged that Mr Gordon performed aggressive and unnecessary laparoscopic surgeries in which he removed tissue and even internal organs from a number of women with suspected endometriosis. Laparoscopic surgeries for severe endometriosis attract the highest Medicare rebate for this condition, under MBS item 35641. It's alleged that, for each of these operations, Mr Gordon received up to a $1,449 rebate but that he also billed tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket fees paid by vulnerable women.

Some women reported being forced to access their superannuation early or to take out personal loans to pay for procedures which left them with permanent pelvic scarring. Further, it's alleged that some women were rendered infertile unnecessarily, even criminally, by a surgeon that they had trusted—a man in whose hands they'd placed themselves at their time of greatest vulnerability.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' guidelines advise caution before undertaking repeated surgery for endometriosis, but Mr Gordon allegedly undertook such surgery as many as seven times on one of these patients. That should have rung alarm bells through excessive billing for specific item numbers either through the federal government's Medicare compliance measures or through the Epworth hospital's internal audits. But, instead, the allegations against Mr Gordon suggest a distressing failure of clinical oversight, system protections and regulatory responsibility over some years.

It's a matter of public record that numerous complaints about Mr Gordon's practices were made over a number of years to multiple administrators, from the Epworth hospital to the healthcare regulator Ahpra and to the Victorian Healthcare Complaints Commissioner—complaints made by patients and by his peers. It's inexplicable that this number of complaints did not trigger more effective reviews of his practice.

In response to this case, Ahpra has now launched a major external review into its clinical governance. Safer Care Victoria will engage with that inquiry. An inquiry will be undertaken by the Epworth hospital, and the Victorian government has also referred Mr Gordon to the police. But the state government has not signalled any intention to undertake its own investigation. Given the previous failure of the Epworth hospital to act on multiple complaints over several years, it's confounding that the Allan state government is allowing that private hospital to self-investigate its role in this tragedy.

The allegations I've detailed have understandably caused great consternation and distress in a very vulnerable patient group which is now unsure whether or not it can trust its doctors. Mr Gordon's case should represent a canary-in-the-coalmine moment. It should prompt a review of regulatory oversight in our private hospitals, it should prompt a review of Medicare billing compliance measures and it should prompt a review of the national health care regulatory authority. Until we strengthen accountability, regulation and transparency in our healthcare system, our system will continue to fail Australians, and it will fail vulnerable women.

Carina Garland (Chisholm, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I really want to thank the member for Moreton for bringing this motion to the House. It's a very important motion, and, of course, this motion can only come about because we have here in Australia a government that looks and sounds like our communities—a government that is deeply committed to ensuring no-one is held back and no-one is left behind and that includes a majority of women in the caucus.

Unfortunately, for too long, Australian women have been left behind when it comes to health policy in this country. They've not been listened to, and their health issues have not been taken seriously. I hear all the time from women in my own community in Chisholm about their experiences of not being listened to, and, indeed, I have had those experiences myself. I'm really pleased that we're changing the way women are treated in the health system in this country. This is happening because, as I mentioned, we have a caucus that is reflective of our country, with women at the table making decisions and ensuring that we get better outcomes for everyone. I'm really proud that our government is delivering more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women.

What that looks like is an $800 million women's health package, driving more choice, lower costs and better care for women and girls across the country, and we're already seeing some really good outcomes. Since introducing the women's health package, more than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS prescriptions for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. This includes the first new contraceptive pill listed on the PBS in more than 30 years, plus two additional contraceptive options, helping 328,000 women save more than $27 million on 660,000 scripts; the first new menopausal hormone therapies listed in over 20 years, supporting 383,000 women and saving them $53 million across 1.6 million scripts; and more than 7,000 women with endometriosis accessing 30,000 scripts and saving $5.7 million on treatment that previously put major financial pressure on women.

In addition, we're supporting women undergoing IVF receiving earlier and more affordable access, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that lowered the cost of fertility treatment. And, of course, since January of this year, PBS scripts have been just $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders, which is the lowest that medicine prices have been since 2004. That gives all Australians, including, of course, Australian women, more cost-of-living relief.

We're also making Medicare work better for women by delivering the services in specialist care women have waited far too long for. Medicare funded menopause health assessments have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women. New Medicare items and higher rebates mean cheaper, more accessible gynaecological care, with longer consultations now available for complex issues. We've funded around 430,000 additional services for women with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological conditions, backed by a $49 million national investment that is directly improving women's lives. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access, with larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing, which is saving women up to $400 a year in out-of-pocket costs. This really matters because we know that women are the largest consumers of health in this country. So this is delivering great health outcomes for women but also delivering real cost-of-living savings.

We're building an Australia-wide support system that previously didn't exist, with 11 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics taking the national network to 33 clinics across the country, improving access everywhere, including regional and metropolitan communities. There is a lot of work that our government has been undertaking in this area. This year we will launch Australia's first national awareness campaign for menopause and perimenopause. This is a really important issue for people in my community of Chisholm. I've undertaken a women's health survey and held several women's health forums, including with women's health researchers. I really want to thank everyone for their generosity in sharing their stories with me so that I can advocate for the best possible outcomes for women's health in my community. I commend this motion to the House.

Julian Leeser (Berowra, Liberal Party, Shadow Attorney-General) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I want to rise and make a brief contribution to this debate as the husband of a woman who suffers from endometriosis and also as the co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis, alongside my friend the member for Bendigo. I was one of the founding members of the Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis, a very effective parliamentary friendship group in this place that was founded by former members Gai Brodtmann and Nicolle Flint. Nicolle's story is particularly relevant in that Nicolle decided to get involved on the issue of endometriosis because of friends that she had who had endometriosis and then Nicolle herself found that she had endometriosis and has been undergoing treatment. I also want to acknowledge on my side of the House the former member Nola Marino, who was generous in sharing the stories of her daughter, who had suffered from endometriosis and had a very difficult and trying experience as an endo sufferer.

I want to say to the women of Australia who suffer from endometriosis on behalf of their husbands and partners: we love you, we hear you, we support you and we think you're amazing. For any husband that's gone through watching their wife suffer from multiple surgeries and difficult diagnoses it's almost impossible to fully appreciate what they're going through because the pain can be so severe. My message to the women who have not had a positive diagnosis of endometriosis but suffer from debilitating period pain is, if the diagnosis hasn't been properly revealed, go and get a second opinion and, if you still don't think that that diagnosis is correct, get another second opinion.

One of the things that we in Parliamentary Friends of Endometriosis have done in this parliament is stage a very important day back in February about the importance of endometriosis, in conjunction with Endometriosis Australia. I want to acknowledge the people involved in Endometriosis Australia and, in particular, Monica Forlano and Donna Ciccia, the chair and the deputy chair of Endometriosis Australia. They put on a series of forums that highlighted some of the challenges that people who are suffering from endometriosis face. I want to acknowledge Ellie Angel-Mobbs, who is the broadcaster that moderated some of these sessions, and she did such a great job. She is a sufferer of endometriosis.

One of the things that Endometriosis Australia is promoting at the moment is the idea of being accredited with EndoThrive—so becoming a workplace that is supportive of people who have endometriosis. Divya Gokal, along with Dani Difalco from Showpo, talked about some of the benefits of signing up to the EndoThrive program, which is something that I would encourage other employers to do. It provides support for people in your teams that have endometriosis and shows how you can enact best practice as an employer. The gathering was also addressed by Professor Anusch Yazdani, who is a world leader in endometriosis research and who reminded us that Australia is a world leader in this space.

I particularly want to acknowledge Greg Hunt, the former minister for health and aged care, for the work that he did when he was health minister in the former government in supporting research into endometriosis, listing medicines and raising the profile of this issue. I want to acknowledge Senator Anne Ruston, who is the current shadow minister for health and aged care in this space, and I want to give credit to the current government for continuing the good work to make Australia a world leader in endometriosis. It's so very important.

One of the most affecting presentations at the parliamentary friendship lunch was from Lucia Field and her mum, Miki Field. Lucia is the daughter of Anthony Field, the blue Wiggle, and she is now one of the blue Wiggles. She and her mum both have endometriosis, and it was really only because of her mum's experience that she was successfully diagnosed. But even a woman in her 20s in Australia today, in 2026, was still given the run-around of the health system in terms of getting a proper diagnosis. This really has to be, in my view, the focus of ongoing work, given that we know one in seven women in this country have endometriosis by the age of 49.

Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the motion regarding women's health and on this government's actions to support women's health across the country. I want to thank the member for Moreton for bringing the debate forward. I want to thank the member for Spence and the member for Chisholm for their contributions. I want to thank the member for Kooyong for raising an issue today, which was canvassed by Four Corners, in relation to alleged victims of a surgeon in Melbourne, which has distressed people around the country. It goes to the heart of why this government is taking the action it is taking in women's health. I want to pay tribute to Assistant Ministers Kearney, White and McBride and Minister Butler for the work that they've done since we formed government.

Medical misogyny has been alive and well in this country and internationally. How do we know that? We know that because women make up 51 per cent of the population, yet they have been vacant in the health data over the last century. So this is a really important contribution today in terms of bringing this government's actions to the attention of the House, but also identifying what led to it taking these actions. I want to say upfront that the reason this has happened is that the female people around the country are now reflected in a government that has a majority of women at the table. That is why this has happened.

It has happened because women have raised the issue that they have not been part of a dataset in medical history and that they can still be faced with medical misogyny at a GP visit, and that has driven a lot of this work. Obviously, it is work that takes time. It takes time once you form government to get in, to get the priorities set, to get the departments working on what we need to do. That's why I rise today to say that this government's nearly $800 million landmark women's health package is righting a balance. It is not putting women before men. It is making sure that that balance is right and that women's health is being addressed in this country.

We've done that through 3.2 million cheaper PBS prescriptions, where 700,000 women have accessed cheaper prescriptions. We've done it as a government that listed contraceptive pills on the PBS for the first time in more than 30 years. We've introduced the first new menopausal hormone therapies listed in over 20 years. Over 7,000 women with endometriosis have accessed 30,000 scripts, saving them $5.7 million on treatments, and women undergoing IVF now have earlier and more affordable access to the care they need.

We know that delivering for women's health is not a 'one size fits all' policy, and that's why we're strengthening Medicare so it works better for women and delivers the specialist care they've waited too long for. Medicare funded menopause health assessments have already been accessed by more than 71,000 women, and new Medicare items and higher rebates mean cheaper, more accessible gynaecological care, including longer consultations for more complex issues. Around 430,000 additional services have been funded for women with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chronic pelvic pain and other gynaecological conditions. That's backed by $49 million in national investment directly improving women's lives. IUDs and contraceptive implants are now easier and cheaper to access. With larger Medicare payments and more bulk-billing, women are saving more.

We've taken it a step further, building a national support system providing tailored care that didn't previously exist in our endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. Last week, I proudly stood beside the Prime Minister at the Werribee endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic that has opened in the last three weeks. It is one of the 33 around the country. I was pleased to be there to see this initiative changing lives, to hear from Avoca about the clinics that they have stood up in this space and to hear about the training that the specialist nurses, the physiotherapists, the nutritionists and the GPs are undertaking to ensure that women are getting the absolute best health care. I could not be prouder to be part of a government making sure that women are seen and heard. (Time expired)

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

Endometriosis, pelvic pain and sexual health have for too long been taboo topics, but the incredible team at the south-eastern endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic in Milton is changing that. The clinic was one of the first of its kind to open its doors in September 2023, and for more than two years has been providing women from Helensburgh to the Victorian border with expert multidisciplinary services and care for endometriosis and pelvic pain. Not only is the team helping women of all ages, many of whom have lived with intense pelvic pain for many years, even decades; they're also educating our younger generation. Women's health nurse Susan Wilford has been travelling across the south-east of New South Wales visiting high schools at Nowra, Moruya, Batemans Bay and Ulladulla as well as community groups including CWAs and VIEW clubs. During her visits, Susan has provided free, comprehensive education about pelvic pain, sexual health and endometriosis to more than 4,000 women and girls, equipping them with knowledge about what is healthy, what is normal and when to seek help if required.

I'm always delighted to visit the clinic and to hear so many success stories from women who have accessed free support, often after years of pain. I'm so proud the Albanese Labor government is taking women's health seriously after decades of neglect, and we're making specialised, multidisciplinary care available to more women in regional areas. Our landmark almost $800 million women's health package means more clinics like the one in Milton can provide specialised staff, including nurse practitioners and allied health professionals, with equipment, resources and training to manage and treat complex and debilitating disorders.

Endometriosis affects around one in seven Australian women and has an extensive, devastating impact on their daily lives, with those suffering waiting around seven years before diagnosis. I'm really proud that 11 additional endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics have opened, taking the network to 33 nationwide. The new clinics have also started provided perimenopause and menopause care. The Milton clinic is opening the front door to give women access to the health care they need, and the best part is that it is free under Medicare.

A year on from us announcing the groundbreaking women's health package, the Albanese Labor government continues to deliver more choice, better access and more affordable health care for women. How great it is that in just one year more than 700,000 women have accessed more than 2.3 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments listed on the PBS. More than 71,000 women have now received a Medicare funded menopause health assessment, and 383,000 women have saved more than $53 million on menopausal hormone therapies. Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with more than 46,000 women with specific low levels of reproductive hormones accessing $273,00 scripts in the past year. From 1 January women have made further savings with PBS medicines now just $25 and the concessional co-payment remaining at $7.70.

Labor's historic investment in Medicare is helping women and their families with more bulk-billing practices, including 32 in my electorate of Gilmore. Our 50 new Medicare urgent care clinics, including the Batemans Bay clinic and the brand new Nowra clinic, opening on Thursday, will offer free walk-in care day and night. Our $1 billion injection for mental health services, including 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres and 20 youth specialist centres are providing free, accessible services for women of all ages. As a mum of four, I know just how important it is that our 20 perinatal mental health clinics now offer free psychological support for new and expectant parents.

Finally I want to highlight the wonderful work being done by Waminda, the South Coast's women's health and wellbeing Aboriginal corporation, and their birthing on country centre of excellence. I'm proud to have secured $22.5 million from the government for this, and they're doing a magnificent job. (Time expired)

Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For decades, women and girls were told to endure pain, to accept discomfort as normal and to wait sometimes decades for answers. Too often their symptoms were minimised, too often their concerns were dismissed, and too often the cost of care placed essential treatment out of reach. I was one of those women. I suffered from very heavy periods, debilitating pain and pelvic concerns from the age of around 14. It remained as a painful condition until my late 30s, when an understanding GP took an interest and referred me to the appropriate specialists. I know that I'm not alone in my own experience, and certainly, when I have shared my experience with my comment, women and girls from across all aged have told me about their own experiences, with many still suffering in silence. That is why I am so proud to stand here as the federal member for Bonner and to celebrate Labor's almost $800 million investment in women's health. It has now been a year since it was first introduced, and it represents the largest investment in women's health in Australia's history. It's delivering more choice. It's delivering lower costs and better care for women and girls right across our country. We are already seeing real and measurable outcomes.

Since introducing this historic package, more than 700,000 women have accessed over 2.3 million cheaper PBS scripts for contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatments. For the first time in more than 30 years new contraceptive pills have been added to the PBS, helping 328,000 women save more than $27 million across 660,000 scripts. Women undergoing IVF are receiving earlier and more affordable access to fertility treatment, with 46,000 women supplied 273,000 scripts that significantly reduce the cost of care. And, of course, since January we have seen PBS script prices drop to just $25—the lowest medicine prices since 2004. That is real cost-of-living relief for all Australians, but particularly for Australian women and their families.

March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. It is a time to shine a light on a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects one in seven women. More than one million Australians suffer from endometriosis. Recent national coverage has once again highlighted the lived experiences of women battling this condition. The years of pain, the dismissal, the delayed diagnosis and, most recently, the appalling treatment of women at the hands of medical professionals. On average, women wait seven years for a diagnosis. Hospitalisation rates among young women aged 20 to 24 have doubled over the past decade. These are not just statistics; they represent disrupted education, interrupted careers and diminished quality of life.

For too long people with endometriosis have suffered in silence and that is simply not good enough. Early intervention is critical, evidence based care is essential and access should never depend on your postcode. That is why the Albanese Labor government has expanded endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics nationwide, delivering 11 new clinics and taking the national network to 33 clinics across Australia. Of those, 30 are already operational, improving access in both regional and metropolitan communities.

In my community, we are also set to benefit directly from this investment. A new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic opened in Oxley in late January. It already has active patients, and is continuing to grow. This clinic will support more women in my community of Bonner to get the diagnosis, treatment and multidisciplinary care they need closer to home without the long wait times and financial strain. These clinics are not only treating endometriosis; they are also improving health care and education around perimenopause and menopause.

These reforms represent more than a funding announcement; they represent a cultural shift. They say to Australian women: 'Your health matters. Your pain is real. Your experiences deserve recognition, research and reform. Labor is here for you and delivering for you.' I'm proud of this package, and I'm proud to stand here as part of the Albanese Labor government.

Steve Georganas (Adelaide, 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.