Ellie Whiteaker (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I also rise to speak in support of the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. This bill lowers the cost of PBS medicines for general patients to $25—the lowest it has been in more than 20 years. It will save households across the country more than $200 million every single year.

The Prime Minister said we would make medicines cheaper, and that is exactly what we are doing here today. Labor believes that no-one should have to choose between their health care and managing their budget. This is real cost-of-living relief and it is a demonstration of our real commitment to making health care more affordable. We know how essential medicines are to families, but too often they place too much pressure on them. Lowering the cost of medicines takes a little bit of that pressure off and makes it easier for people to stay on top of their health care and their finances. What might seem like a small saving on paper becomes a really meaningful saving in day-to-day life.

I am so proud that Labor is putting this bill to the Senate today. Labor created the PBS. We created Medicare. This bill shows that we are committed to those foundations and to making health care more affordable for all Australians.