Justine Elliot
Richmond · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I'm very pleased to rise on this matter of public importance. I, like others on our side, do find it very bizarre that the opposition have put this forward because we all remember when the Liberals and Nationals were in government. We all remember the extent of all their cuts—”
“I rise today to speak in support of the establishment of the Parliamentary Friends of Crime Stoppers. Earlier this week, I joined my fellow co-chairs, the member for Cowper and the member for Fowler, at the launch of this new parliamentary friends group.”
“At a time when criminal activity continues to evolve from organised crime to cyber related offences and scams, fostering stronger cooperation between communities and law enforcement has never been more important. The true value that Crime Stoppers delivers is absolutely significant.”
“Community safety is something that has been very important to me throughout my entire career. Before entering parliament, I served as a frontline police officer, and, during that time, I saw firsthand how vital information from the public can be in helping police investigate crime, prevent harm and protect our communities.”
“That represents thousands of pieces of information that may otherwise not have reached authorities. The report also identified more than $131 million in avoided harm associated with illicit drugs, more than $50 million in avoided costs linked to reoffending and more than $32 million in law enforcement efficiency gains.”
“Behind every statistic is a person who saw something, heard something or knew something and decided to do something about it. That decision can help prevent harm, protect a victim, disrupt criminal activity or support an investigation.”
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“Police officers understand the risks they face every time they put their uniforms on. They know these risks can have an absolutely devastating impact, yet, despite this, police show up. They show up during the darkest moments in people's lives, and they do what needs to be done. In Victoria, these families have faced the worst nightmare imaginable: the fear that someone they know who is so dedicated and so selfless could be taken from them so suddenly. The families of the two Victorian police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and another who was seriously injured are now enduring a form of grief that no-one should ever have to face. Our thoughts are also with the emergency services who responded to this unthinkable crime, and our hearts go out to the families, friends and colleagues of all those officers.”
“I too rise to speak on the private member's motion on Police Week put forward by the member for Wide Bay. I note his and indeed all the speakers' commitment to honouring those police who have lost their lives in the line of duty and the shared commitment of all members of parliament in honouring that. All Australians were deeply saddened and heartbroken by the tragic events that unfolded in Victoria last week. On Tuesday we learnt that two Victorian police officers, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, were cruelly and senselessly killed in the line of duty. I honour these officers, recognise their dedication and courage, and share in the grief felt right across our nation. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of these officers as well as the entire police family.”
“We are a government with a big agenda, and, as I said, it's an absolute honour and privilege to have been re-elected, for the eighth time, and one that I take very seriously. I certainly want to thank all the people from Richmond for re-electing me.”
“I really want to thank the Minister for Health and Ageing for visiting Murwillumbah and seeing that it's not a city but a regional area and that this needed to be changed. We corrected a mistake by the previous Liberal-National government, which had made it previously impossible to get bulk-billing in Murwillumbah. The Albanese Labor government listened, and we changed it. There are now so many more doctors that are bulk-billing. In fact, we have a practice that now is universally bulk-billing everyone, ahead of our 1 November changes. It shows that we are a government that really does listen to communities, acts on their concerns and improves things. The fact that now so many people in Murwillumbah and surrounding areas can get a bulk-billing doctor is so important, because they couldn't do that under the previous government.”
“We know the needs for social and affordable housing are quite extensive, so I was very proud to have that announcement in place. We'd previously announced 26 safe places for women and children fleeing domestic violence in Tweed Heads as well, but as a government we are totally focused on improving the housing situation across the country, whether that be through home deposits or Housing Australia or one of our many other initiatives. It is a strong focus, I know, for the Prime Minister and the entire government. Lastly, I want to mention yet another great initiative from our government that helps so much in terms of health care. There was a reclassification of Murwillumbah from a city to a regional area, which was a game changer for local GPs and patients. It meant they could bulk-bill more and they could also attract more doctors.”
“It is so important that so many people, including younger Australians, can buy their home sooner, and it builds on all of the initiatives that we've had in place in terms of providing housing support and access to it. We need to have more houses built. We need to have all these initiatives in place, and we are absolutely committed to doing that. Earlier this year I announced a very important initiative for my region, which is that the Albanese Labor government is delivering 15 new affordable units in Brunswick Heads through the first round of the Housing Australia Future Fund. We're committed to approving more social and affordable housing. These particular homes are for renters, first home buyers, women and children fleeing domestic violence and those at risk of homelessness. That's why having these units will make such a big difference.”
“I know that locals would want to know that they're very doing well, and we keep in constant contact with Friends of the Pound. I acknowledge the remarkable work they continue to do, and having this new facility will add to that great work. In the time I have left, I'd like to speak about all our initiatives around housing. Indeed, this is one of the biggest issues we face in our region and right across the country. I was pleased to hear the announcement the other day that in fact we are as a government helping more Australians realise their dream of homeownership sooner by launching the five per cent home deposit scheme for first home buyers on 1 October this year, instead of next year. What a response there has been to that!”
“My election commitment in 2022 was for $1 million for the pound, building upon the $1.76 million in federal funding we had already secured. That's a massive federal funding initiative for the pound. The design and build of the facility is in line with the latest in animal welfare guidelines; features new dog kennels, catteries and facilities; and replaces the old pound at Stotts Creek. I especially want to acknowledge the remarkable people at Friends of the Pound, who do such a great job in looking after our animals. I've told the House this before, but, when we made the announcement about our election commitment in late 2021, Friends of the Pound brought along some wonderful animals, including some rescue dogs, and I met and fell in love with Teddy—a half chihuahua—and we adopted him. Six months later we adopted his sister Cindy-Lou.”
“They've got tailored supports and services for veterans, and that's so important for improving the health and wellbeing of local veterans and for providing whatever services they may need. It's important to provide that for those who have bravely served our nation and for their families as well. I know that these veterans hubs have been a great success across the nation, so I'm very proud to have one in our region. The last of my 2022 commitments I wanted to speak about is the Tweed Shire Council pound—the new pound we're going to be opening up very soon. It's a new pound and rehoming centre in South Murwillumbah. I want to acknowledge the Tweed Shire Council, who advocated strongly for this and who are currently finishing it off.”
“But it's also of huge benefit to our local tourism industry, as we didn't have a large-scale commercial laundry on the North Coast. But now we do. Beacon Laundry provides that laundry option for businesses in tourism, and they are very, very busy and constantly employing more people. Also, there was my election commitment of $5 million for the veterans hub. The temporary hub is now open, and it's fantastic. It's in Tweed Heads. I really want to acknowledge RSL Lifecare Veteran Services and RSL NSW, who we worked closely with to get that open. It's located on Wharf Street, Tweed Heads. The temporary hub is there, and the permanent hub is opening in the same spot.”
“I've delivered all of my 2022 election commitments, and it's great to see them all in place: the $1.5 million towards the completion of the Lennox Head village upgrade—a wonderful village, one of our most beautiful coastal villages. We have many in my region, and this investment makes a huge difference to local infrastructure. Last year, the Prime Minister and I officially opened the Beacon Laundry in Bangalow. It's a jobs-focused, not-for-profit social enterprise run by White Box Enterprises, who run similar projects across the country. Our election commitment was $750,000 to help fit out that laundry. That laundry is now up and running and employing more than 100 locals. It provides vital job opportunities for long-term unemployed locals, who get to gain work experience and receive ongoing training in a fully supported environment.”
“The Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital operates inside a custom-built semitrailer, making it Australia's only mobile wildlife hospital. It can also be deployed during natural disasters to treat impacted wildlife. They do an amazing job, and I want to acknowledge the whole team at the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital for their important veterinary work rehabilitating native animals, for leading the way in wildlife protection across our region and for their strong community advocacy as well. Thank you. Again, it is another community victory that I was able to announce that election commitment, and I very much look forward to delivering on it. As I said, locals can always count on me.”
“As a former frontline police officer, I know firsthand how important it is that we have more resources, including CCTV, to combat crime on the North Coast. Of course, it's up to each of the councils to decide how that money is used in terms of community safety, but it could be used for CCTV, lighting, bollards, fencing or landscaping to improve community safety, reduce crime risks and enhance the vibrancy and usability of shared community spaces. Again, this is a community victory, and I thank everyone who advocated for it. Another very exciting election commitment was $2 million for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital. They are fantastic. They opened in 2020 and operate seven days a week. They've treated more than 9,000 native animals, including hundreds of threatened species.”
“Again, it builds on all of the things that our government does to provide health services. Late last year I was very pleased to announce—actually in Lennox Head, with the Prime Minister there for the announcement—that, if re-elected, we would deliver $3 million for a North Coast crime prevention infrastructure action plan. I want to note and thank the whole community. Again, this is a real community victory. Labor always listens and acts, and our community had called for this. I thank the Prime Minister for coming to Lennox Head to make that announcement late last year. This $3 million commitment will fund infrastructure measures for crime prevention and community safety in our North Coast communities. It includes a million dollars for each of the three local government areas, Tweed, Byron and Ballina.”
“Again, it'll be open for extended hours, with no appointment or referral needed to access those services—just walk in, and they are free. It'll be staffed by qualified mental health professionals to provide the support people need. Again, there will be a tender process through the North Coast Primary Health Network, who will commission the Tweed Medicare mental health centre. This is really important because, as we've discussed here—and as we discuss a lot at home too—the mental health needs of my community, indeed throughout the country, are quite extensive, particularly in our region after the devastating 2022 floods. There are still many people who require support as a result of that disaster. Having this service in place will be vitally important, particularly because people can just walk in and it is free.”
“A tender process, led by the North Coast Primary Health Network, has commenced, as I said, to identify the provider to operate the new clinic. It'll be open to general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal community-controlled health services. This really does extend on the Albanese Labor government's commitment to strengthen Medicare. And, of course, we've made the single largest investment in Medicare since its creation more than 40 years ago, and we are very, very proud of our continued investment in Medicare. I also announced earlier this year that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would establish a Medicare mental health centre in Tweed Heads. When we have that, it will mean that locals will have access to free, walk-in mental healthcare when that centre is open.”
“That will identify a provider to operate that Tweed urgent care clinic. This clinic will give more locals access to the high-quality, free, walk-in urgent healthcare that they need. I've said to many people in our community: as your local Labor MP, you can count on me to deliver that urgent care clinic in the Tweed region, so you can get the free, fully bulk-billed urgent care you need—all you'll need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. The new Tweed Valley Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be open over extended hours, seven days a week, with no appointment needed, and all patients will be fully bulk-billed. And what a difference it will make. The clinic, of course, is also intended to take pressure off the Tweed Valley Hospital and will fill an important gap in services across extended hours and over weekends.”
“Throughout the campaign, I talked about my record of delivery, of working very closely with the community and what we have delivered. Indeed, I've delivered more than $3 billion for our area, including all of my previous election commitments from the 2022 election. I'll run through those in a bit more detail in a minute—we've got the new animal pound, the new veterans' hub, the social enterprise laundry and the Lennox Head village upgrade. People know that when I make a promise I will always deliver on it, and we've seen all of those election commitments delivered. Now to the 2025 election. Earlier this year, I announced that a re-elected Albanese Labor government would deliver a Medicare urgent care clinic for the Tweed region. We're now delivering on that, with the tender process started and under way from 22 August.”
“They haven't listened to the community right throughout the country in terms of why they've been rejected, and I think they all need to be doing that and reflecting upon the policies and their actions as well. The fact is, Labor is strengthening Medicare, and we're very proud of that, with more bulk-billing and training more doctors, as well as increasing the Medicare rebate—it's so important. In my region, I made a number of election commitments, like the free bulk-billed Medicare urgent care clinic, the Medicare mental health centre, the crime action plan, and funding for the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital—again, initiatives that I'll detail in a minute that will have positive improvements for the New South Wales North Coast.”
“I pointed out many times that Peter Dutton, when the former opposition leader was health minister, wanted to scrap bulk-billing and introduce a tax on every single visit to the GP, started a six-year freeze on Medicare rebates, and cut $50 billion from our hospitals. Locals know that when the Liberals and Nationals say that they'll cut public services, that affects Medicare, bulk-billing, our cheaper medicines, veterans' claims, and the age pension as well. Indeed, Peter Dutton had said there were too many free Medicare services. Locals completely rejected any of the measures from the Liberals and Nationals when it comes to health care, because they don't trust them. Since the election, unfortunately, we have seen no reflection or change of policies from those opposite, or from the Greens political party. No lessons have been learnt.”
“I made it very clear to my community during the campaign that they could always count on me to keep delivering for our region as part of an Albanese Labor government. At the election, there was a very clear choice between building Australia's future with us or taking Australia backwards with the Liberals and Nationals—which we know would have left us all worse off. We pointed out—and I point out every day in my region—that our cost-of-living relief was all at risk under the Liberals and Nationals, because they opposed every single one of Labor's cost-of-living measures, even voting against tax cuts. People found that absolutely appalling.”
“Everywhere I would go, people would say to me they were done with the Greens in terms of the fact they were blocking really good initiatives that we have. I think both the Greens political party and the Liberal and National parties did pay the price for constantly blocking our initiatives. I think the Australian people have said very loudly and clearly to both those political parties that Australians don't want to see constant blocking—they want to see improvements. They wanted to see in place the improvements that we had, particularly when it comes to housing. Throughout the campaign, full credit goes to our wonderful prime minister. He was out there every day, focused on building Australia's future and talking about Labor's positive policies.”
“We've also always had a very strong focus on strengthening our economy, creating more than a million jobs in that last term of government, keeping our economy strong so we can keep delivering on all the vital services that we do. The campaign was like all tough campaigns—on one hand we had the Liberal and National parties who were in disarray and talking most of the time about their nuclear policy. After speaking to all those people in my community, I know they totally rejected that—the cost of it, the danger of it. They honestly thought it was quite absurd, and clearly that's what Australians thought right across the board. Also in my electorate, the Greens were rejected as well, because of the extreme nature, particularly blocking so many good initiatives like housing.”
“Free TAFE has been a real game changer across the country, and, in my seat of Richmond, more than 5,000 people have been able to access our free TAFE plan. What a difference it makes, not just for them getting increased education but also for their capacity to find work, and it strengthens our economy as well. As I referred to earlier, we're cutting HECS by 20 per cent. We've got more than 19,000 people in my electorate who will benefit from that. The Cheaper Home Batteries Program, as we know, is being taken up at a huge rate across the country—indeed, Richmond is one of the electorates with the highest take-up rates on that, which is great to see. Other policies like energy bill relief for every household, cheaper child care and medicines, and more rent assistance are, again, making a big difference.”
“Of course, I say a special thanks to all of my family—my husband, Craig, and our children—and to our extended family as well. Thanks to all of you for your continued support over the last eight terms and throughout this campaign as well. It means the world to me. In Richmond, we ran a very positive and optimistic campaign the whole time, and we were focused on delivering real cost-of-living relief for locals, including the tax cuts for every taxpayer—incredibly important in my area; strengthening Medicare—an issue that comes up all the time; fixing our housing crisis, which has made it so difficult in terms of people being able to access a house and rentals; and also investing in renewables and boosting wages.”
“In terms of my seat of Richmond, I really want to thank all those that worked so hard for Labor to retain the seat, and I really want to thank those that assisted on polling day and with prepoll, doorknocking and the phone calls. I say a big thanks to all my wonderful staff, all of our local Labor members and those other Labor members that came and assisted us. Thank you to the wonderful union movement, our New South Wales head office and the national secretariat for their great work and to all those volunteers and supporters that provided help to us. Together, we made more than 50,000 phone calls and doorknocks in this campaign. We were out and about every day, talking to locals about the issues that are important to them. I want to thank everyone who assisted.”
“Since we've been back, we've been ensuring that medicines are cheaper—again, vitally important in areas like mine, the far north coast of New South Wales. We have a large proportion of elderly people, so ensuring their medicines are cheaper and ensuring it's cheaper for families is all vitally important. Also since we've been back, we've been working to protect penalty rates. That was one of our many election commitments, because we know how important it is to have penalty rates in place. Australians know that they can only rely on Labor to deliver for them when it comes to their working conditions and, particularly, protecting their penalty rates.”
“Our caucus is much bigger and so much more diverse, with 56 per cent women and our new members being incredibly diverse and bringing a whole range of different skills and histories to our caucus and to the parliament. It's wonderful to see—I think we'd all agree—from the first speeches, the incredible array of people that have been elected to the 48th Parliament. Since we've been back here, our government has been extremely busy delivering on, particularly, many of our election commitments, like reducing HECS debt by 20 per cent. This was a huge issue in my electorate, as I heard out and about talking to locals who had those huge HECS debts. Having that decreased by 20 per cent will make such a big difference to them.”
“Can I say what an honour it is to be here and to have been elected to this parliament, the 48th Parliament. I really want to thank the people of Richmond for putting their trust in me for the eighth time. It is, as I say, an incredible honour and, indeed, a massive privilege to be elected to the federal parliament, and I take that on very seriously. To have been elected for the eighth time—again, I want to thank the people of Richmond for putting their trust in me. Of course, nationally, Labor won the election and won with a very large majority. We won 94 seats, more seats that any political party in Australia's history. Right across the country we saw that people voted for Australian values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity, and these are the values that drive our government, the Albanese Labor government.”
“They were very severe across the country but more so, again, in our regional and rural areas, where there often are impediments to getting health care. People in my region suffered for many years—the nine years the Liberals and Nationals were in government—from the consistent cuts, at every turn, to health care. It is a big job, and our government has been working extremely hard. I want to acknowledge the incredible work of our health minister in his commitment to strengthening Medicare, and we are seeing the result on the ground now. We know there's a lot to do, but with all those changes we have made a massive difference to people across the country and particularly in my region. Locals in my community on the far north coast know you can only count on Labor to strengthen Medicare and improve the PBS. I commend the bill to the House.”
“They cut $50 billion from our hospitals, which, quite frankly, was catastrophic in terms of the capacity to deliver health services. It had a huge impact. Disgracefully, they froze the Medicare rebate—and they made it more expensive to see a doctor by freezing that rebate. They planned to increase the cost of PBS medicines as well. They voted against making PBS medicines cheaper. They've described our urgent care clinics as 'wasteful spending'. This is absolutely absurd. Our initiatives are game changers. People know that Labor is committed to delivering and strengthening Medicare. They know that when it comes to the Liberals and Nationals—when the former opposition leader was health minister, there were all the cuts he made, and he said that not everything can be free. The impact that his cuts had right across the board is absurd.”
“As I say, our government is committed to strengthening Medicare by making PBS medicines even cheaper, increasing bulk-billing incentives, opening up Medicare urgent care clinics—like the one we'll have in Tweed Heads—and growing our health workforce to deliver more doctors and nurses, which we very much need on the ground. We're also investing in women's and men's health initiatives. We're opening more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. We're investing in a lot more free mental health support. We're also establishing 1800MEDICARE, a free 24/7 health advice line that people can access. Of course, if we look at all of those actions by our government, the Albanese Labor government, the contrast with the Liberals' and Nationals' record on Medicare and the PBS is crystal clear.”
“They've told me they can do that now because the Albanese Labor government reclassified Murwillumbah as regional and also because of our increases to bulk-billing incentives that come in from 1 November 2025. It is a perfect example of a government listening and acting, and how our really strong policies in terms of accessing health care are making a difference to regional Australians who quite often have had difficulty accessing health care. But we're making sure that, across the country, people have more services when they need them.”
“There are GPs, like the ones at Wollumbin Medical Centre in Murwillumbah, that are now universally bulk-billing patients. I know that many other practices have started a lot more bulk-billing as well, particularly of pensioners and concession card holders who just could not get to the doctor because of the way the Liberals and Nationals had classified Murwillumbah. They can now, and that's great. I hear from many of the GP practices as well that they've had a lot of interest from doctors who want to move there now that they can access more incentives. Recently, I was really pleased to visit the Wollumbin Medical Centre to celebrate this good news about them universally bulk-billing everyone.”
“Another very important measure that we the Albanese Labor government took was to reclassify the town of Murwillumbah from 'metropolitan' to 'regional' for healthcare services. We reversed the Liberals and Nationals' absurd decision to classify Murwillumbah as a city. I don't know if you've been to Murwillumbah, but it's not a city; it's a regional town. That, of course, had a huge impact upon their capacity to bulk-bill; it was less. Their capacity to attract doctors was unheard of. They couldn't do that because they were classified as a city. I really want to congratulate everyone, particularly in Murwillumbah. This is a community victory. They made their voices heard. We heard them. Labor listen and Labor act, and we changed that classification. It's making a real difference for locals.”
“The centre will provide immediate relief for people in distress, as well as ongoing care for those with more complex mental health needs. Earlier this year, we expanded access to mental health support for young people in my region by opening a new headspace in Ballina. Headspaces are incredibly important for young people to feel comfortable about accessing the health care they need. We have one in Tweed, and I know they do a remarkable job of providing support. That one in Ballina was indeed very much needed, and I was very proud to open that earlier this year. We're also making MRI scans more affordable and delivering health services to support those experiencing homelessness on the north coast.”
“We're also delivering access to a free walk-in mental health care clinic for locals with the Medicare mental health centre in Tweed. This is, again, another election commitment of this government that I'm proud to be a part of that I'm proud to be delivering on. The Medicare mental health centre will be open for extended hours, with no appointment or referral needed. Just walk in—no appointment, no referral—to get the mental health care that you need. You can walk in and get that from this centre. I know other centres around the country are providing vital support for people. That mental health centre will be staffed by qualified mental health professionals, including social workers, nurses and peer support workers.”
“Recent data has shown us that over 22 per cent of presentations to urgent care clinics in New South Wales have occurred outside normal business hours. That's when people do require that treatment. Over one in four visits take place on the weekend and one in four visits involve treating a young person under the age of 15. This is a very clear indication that the Medicare urgent care clinics are vitally and crucially filling a gap in providing services outside of standard hours and over the weekend. These clinics are giving families in New South Wales—and, indeed, right across the country—timely access to bulk-billed health care and to peace of mind, knowing that help is always there and available. And, of course, it will take pressure off our hospitals as well.”
“Access to health care and cheaper medicines is vitally important to every single Australian, and this bill builds on the work of the Albanese Labor government and what we are already doing to improve access to health care in my community on the far north coast of New South Wales. Prior to the recent election, I made a commitment that, if the Albanese Labor government were re-elected, we'd deliver a Medicare urgent care clinic in the Tweed region where all you will need is your Medicare card, not your credit card. At the new urgent care clinic, locals will be able to access free urgent care when they need fully bulk-billed treatments without waiting for hours in a busy hospital emergency department. This urgent care clinic will make a huge difference to the people of the far north coast.”
“So, without the PBS, access to many life-saving and life-changing drugs would simply not be possible for the vast majority of Australians. The PBS is such a significant component of the government's investment in our healthcare system. We're committed to ensuring that new medicines can be added and listed on the PBS so that Australians can continue to benefit from access to the highest-quality medicines and so that the pharmaceutical market stays sustainable and competitive. We're also committed to continued investment in other essential healthcare services, including bulk-billing.”
“Another drug, encorafenib, used to treat melanomas and other cancers, has a retail price of $7,035.45 without the government subsidy. It's a huge difference. Another drug, nivolumab, is an immunotherapy treatment for various forms of cancer. Without the government subsidy, it would cost more than $9,560. It is astounding the difference it will make. Another drug, Doxorubicin hydrochloride, a common and highly effective chemotherapy drug, would have a price of $750.37 without the subsidy. Another one, infliximab, is a commonly accessed drug that treats autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis. Without the government subsidy, this would cost between $578.68 and $760.24, depending upon the mode of injection.”
“There are over 900 medicines listed on the PBS, including more than 5,000 different brands. Without the PBS, Australians would be paying the full retail cost to access the medicines they need, and this cost would then be determined by drug makers and pharmacies. From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, over 226 million subsidised prescriptions were dispensed under the PBS. The average cost per patient for prescriptions would be more than $85 without this important government subsidy. Indeed, one of the world's most expensive drugs, Zolgensma, treats spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disorder that involves loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and causes progressive muscle weakness. Prior to PBS listing, this drug could be purchased for $3 million; it can now be accessed for the standard co-payment amount.”
“They're good for your health, good for household budgets and good for our health system overall. The measures in this bill are expected to save Australians over $200 million each year. From 1 January 2026, PBS medicines will become even cheaper. The last time that PBS medicines cost just $25 was more than 20 years ago. Of course, the PBS is a cornerstone of Medicare, ensuring timely and affordable access to high-quality, cost-effective medicines. When people get the medicines they need when they need them, we see much better health outcomes and reduced pressures on our hospitals and other health services. Affordable medicines are so important, too, for supporting school attendance, workforce participation, family care responsibilities and boosting productivity. They're a win-win for everyone.”
“Earlier this year, we froze the cost of PBS medicines for pension and concession card holders so that medicine prices would stay at a maximum $7.70. For my electorate, and the older Australians there, this has made a huge difference in terms of addressing their health needs. For non-concession-card-holders, the cost was frozen at a maximum price of $31.60 until the end of 2025. Already, this reform has led to an estimated $11 million in savings for concessional patients and $15 million for non-concessional patients. Together, these reforms have saved Australians $1.5 billion in medicine costs—a huge amount. In my electorate, patients have saved more than $9.7 million. Now, we're going even further. Cheaper medicines mean immediate cost-of-living relief for everybody.”
“In 2022, we reduced the PBS safety net threshold, cutting the number of scripts concessional patients need before qualifying for free or discounted medicines by 25 per cent. This reform has saved patients over $535 million, with 73 million additional free scripts issued. In 2023, we made the largest cut to medicine costs in PBS history, reducing the general patient co-payment from $42.50 to $30, a 30 per cent reduction that saved patients over $755 million. We also introduced 60-day prescriptions for chronic conditions, which allowed patients to receive double the medication per script, saving time and money and easing the pressure on doctors and pharmacists. This reform saved Australians more than $245 million.”
“We know that, for so many people, the cost of medicines is a major contributor to cost-of-living pressures, but delaying or foregoing medication due to cost can lead to worsening health conditions, more complex treatment and higher long-term healthcare costs. This bill is the latest in a series of cost-of-living measures delivered by our government to make medicines even more affordable. It fulfils our 2025 election commitment to reduce the PBS general patient co-payment. From 1 January 2026, all Australians with a Medicare card will pay no more than $25 for PBS medicines. This change will benefit around 5.1 million Australians, delivering immediate relief at the pharmacy counter. Our government's committed to cheaper medicines, a stronger Medicare, more bulk-billing, more doctors and nurses, and more urgent care clinics.”
“I, too, rise to speak in support of the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. The bill amends the National Health Act 1953 to cut the maximum cost of PBS medicines by 20 per cent from $31.60 to $25. It was a Labor government that created the PBS so that every Australian could afford the medicine that they needed. Now, the Albanese Labor government is continuing that legacy, strengthening and protecting the PBS for future generations. Without the PBS, many medicines would cost hundreds, even thousands, per prescription, which would make access to vital medications difficult, if not impossible, for so many Australians.”
“During the election, I made the commitment to getting an urgent care clinic in Tweed Heads—it is absolutely important that people can access that, and they will just need their Medicare card to do it—and a Medicare mental health centre in Tweed Heads, which will be free and bulk-billed. Both those services will be so important for the Tweed and the North Coast region. Yet again, it's a Labor government that continues to deliver and strengthen Medicare after so many cuts and rebates being frozen under the previous government. It's now the Albanese Labor government delivering for my community and, indeed, right across Australia.”
“That meant they were unable to bulk-bill many people and they couldn't attract many doctors. The situation was devastating, and I was very pleased that the Minister for Health and Ageing came to Murwillumbah, met with local doctors and heard firsthand about the impact of this classification. Only a few months ago, it was changed; Murwillumbah is classified as a regional area again, and I am very pleased to report that many local doctors and local residents are telling me that bulk-billing has increased. We've now got a lot of doctors that want to move there because the incentives are in place. Again, it's about Labor listening and acting. For this town in my region, it was a huge improvement when it came to health services.”
“This cheaper-medicines policy is another key cost-of-living measure that this government has brought in. For the people of the North Coast, all our initiatives have made a huge impact on them when it comes to health care, particularly the tripling of the bulk-billing rates; making MRI scans more affordable; new health services to support those experiencing homelessness; a new headspace in Ballina, which is already open and providing important services for our younger people; and, really importantly, changes to the Modified Monash Model for the township of Murwillumbah. I've told this House many times the situation in Murwillumbah. The Morrison government changed the classification of the wonderful small regional town of Murwillumbah from 'regional' to 'metropolitan', which was completely absurd.”