Charlotte Walker (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I note that this is not my first speech. I want to speak about how important the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is to people living with medical conditions. This year, I was diagnosed with a genetic heart condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia, or FH. FH is an inherited condition that affects up to one in 250 Australians. When I was diagnosed with FH, I was told that, without regular medication, I could have a heart attack much younger than average. FH causes dangerously high cholesterol levels from birth. Without treatment it increases the risk of early heart disease by up to 20 times. In severe cases, children with undiagnosed FH can suffer heart attacks before they finish school. But here's the good news: with early diagnosis and regular access to cholesterol-lowering medication, people with FH can live long, healthy lives.

The medication I take each day is on the PBS. I must commend Minister Butler for our government's policy to reduce the PBS co-payment to a maximum of $25 from 1 January next year. This policy is a lifeline for every Australian needing medication but particularly for those of us with medical conditions. To put this into perspective, the Australia Institute's research shows that my medication can cost more than $2,000 in the United States if you do not have private health insurance. This change to the PBS will strengthen our healthcare system and relieve the cost of living. This reform is practical and compassionate, and this reform is necessary for Aussies like me who rely on medication every single day.