Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor will support this motion because we strongly support the principle of improved access to medicinal cannabis in Australia. Labor made a series of election commitments to improve access and affordability. We urge the government to follow our lead. However, like the government, we note that medicines must be assessed for safety and efficacy by the TGA. In addition, under the National Health Act, medicines cannot be added to the PBS until they are recommended by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. This ensures that independent experts, not politicians, guide which medicines are subsidised by taxpayers.