Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill, and I'm also proud to be part of the Anthony Albanese Labor government, who continue to deliver on our election commitments. The cost of prescriptions is a significant concern for many Australians, especially those who have challenges with the cost of living. Sixty-day scripts have made a lot of difference to people who have chronic illnesses. Cheaper medicines have helped put more money back in everyday Australian's pockets, and we know on this side of the chamber that we will always defend Medicare and invest.

It is fitting that we're debating this bill today, because, as co-chair of Parliamentary Friends of Arthritis, our breakfast was held in Parliament House this morning. These are people who live with chronic pain, so having cheaper medicines, which ensure that they don't have to make a choice between their groceries, paying their rent and getting their medication. Labor has always invested in their people. We will always support better access to more affordable medication so that we can manage those chronic illnesses. It also helps to prevent deterioration of your health. We know that there are challenges in the cost of living, so anything that can help, like reducing the cost of medications, has got to be a good thing.

At its heart Labor's cheaper medicines policy is about fairness, and it's about health equity. It doesn't matter where you live; you should still have access to affordable medication. By driving down the cost of prescription drugs at the pharmacy counter, Labor's approach directly addresses the growing concern that many people are being forced to skip doses, delay refilling scripts or avoiding seeking treatment all together due to financial constraints. I'm in this chamber on this side and I'm part of a government that is delivering an election commitment—bringing the cost of medication down. We're putting more medications on the PBS, delivering 60-day scripts, which those opposite when they were in government for 11 years buckled and did not have the fortitude to change. That is huge to people who have chronic illnesses.