Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Walsh for her question and for the opportunity to talk about another one of our policies which goes right to the heart of addressing some of the cost-of-living pressures households are experiencing right now. In January this year, we delivered the largest cuts to the price of medicine in the 75 years since the Chifley Labor government established the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The general copayment was reduced from $42.50 to $30, and, in the first six months of this year, Australians have saved $120 million on over 11 million prescriptions. That's $120 million in savings.

We are determined to do more to help Australians with the cost-of-living challenges they are facing, and that's why we announced in the budget that we would move to 60-day prescriptions for a select group of medicines for people who have ongoing health conditions where their doctor approves it. This will mean around six million Australians with ongoing health conditions will be able to access 60 days worth of medicines at the same price that they currently pay for 30 days worth of medicines. This will mean, for six million Australians who have ongoing health conditions, it will effectively be halving the cost of getting certain medicines. It's estimated that Australians moving to those arrangements will save $180 per medicine each year. This policy, importantly, is based on the expert advice provided to the government by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Sixty-day scripts are already in place in New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom. The AMA says this is a 'win for patients' that 'should lead to better medicines adherence and ultimately better health outcomes, with reduced pressure on the health system'. I think, based on those comments, this is something that all of us in this place should support.