Dan Repacholi
Hunter · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“It's practical and it's most certainly overdue I want to spend a bit more time on why this transparency matters in the real world. When people cannot see the cost up front, they're making decisions in the dark. They might pick the first specialist they referred to without knowing that there are more affordable ones right near them.”
“He said to me, 'I just want to focus on getting better and not having to worry about the bill.' This is the kind of uncertainty that is not accidental. When more of the burden is pushed onto individuals and people are expected to navigate the costs on their own, this is exactly what happens.”
“We tried that, and it simply didn't work. Out of thousands of eligible specialists, only a handful chose to share their fees. That is not transparency. That is a system that leaves patients in the dark. This bill fixes it by using data we already have—medical data, hospital billing data, insurer data.”
“If we make the system clearer, simpler and easier to understand, we remove more barriers. We make it more likely that they will actually take that next step, book the appointment, follow through with treatment and get checked early instead of late. That saves lives. And it's not just about physical health.”
“I've spoken to a family in Singleton whose teenage daughter needed a specialist consultation. They were trying to do the right thing, following the medical advice they were given, and get Olivia the care she needed, but they were given very little clarity on the cost.”
“They can see whether a doctor participates in gap-cover arrangements. They can understand what their insurer is likely to cover. This is common sense. It's something that people expect. This bill also provides transparency around hospitals and insurers. It will show which doctors operate at which facilities.”
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“I rise to celebrate another champion from the Hunter. The Hunter's very own Taylee Short was recently crowned Miss Ultimate of Australia 2025 and also took out Miss Ultimate People's Choice at the Ultimate International Miss Australia event. What an incredible achievement, Taylee. You have worked your backside off for this, to get there. From the training to the preparation, the outfits and the appearance, Taylee put in the hard yards. She went with her best foot forward, pushed harder than ever and made sure she was ready in every way. That determination has paid off in the best way possible—bringing home the crown. This is more than just a personal win for Taylee; it's another reminder that the Hunter doesn't just compete but leads. We are the best region in the country, producing champions in every field.”
“Zey make ze big wines. How could zey possibly know ze difference between a pinot and a shiraz?' Well, guess what? We do. And we can do it blindfolded, before smoko and without a beret in sight. This is more than a win for Declan and the Hunter Valley. It's proof the Australian wine industry is world class, with craftsmanship and character that can stand proudly on any table or in any glass. So to Declan and the whole Hunter Valley: sante, or good health. You have done us proud. Cheers!”
“Mesdames and messieurs—ooh la la! The Hunter Valley has done it again. At the 2025 World Tasting Championship in the heart of France, our Aussie team of wine growers and wine lovers went sip for sip with the best noses and palates on the planet. Forty countries lined up. There were 12 mysterious wines, and more swirling, sniffing and spitting than you could poke a stick at. France took home the gold of course. It was a homegrown advantage I reckon—I don't want to spark an international incident, but let's just say it smelt a little suspicious. China came second but Australia, with our own Hunter Valley hero Declan McCaffrey of McCaffrey's Estate, came third in the world. That's right. Aussies stood shoulder to shoulder with French sommeliers who taste wine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The French might say: 'Ah, ze Australians.”
“My question is to the Treasurer. What does the final budget outcome for the last financial year show about the progress the Albanese Labor government has made on the budget over the three years after a decade of budget mismanagement?”
“People come to the Hunter to experience its creativity and hospitality and to see why the valley is known worldwide for food and wine. It's also brought out their commitment to sustainability and their support for local growers, giving visitors a genuine and authentic taste of home. To Frank, Emma and the whole EXP team: congratulations. You are proof that, when it comes to great food and great wine, the Hunter always leads the way. There's nowhere you'd rather be than right there in the Hunter. Cheers!”
“It's another day and another Hunter success story in hospo! I'm proud to stand here and talk about a local gem from back home that is punching well above its weight. EXP.Restaurant, right in the heart of the Hunter Valley, has been named a finalist for the Regional Restaurant of the Year award in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide . It's not just about fine dining; it's about passion, community and telling the Hunter story one plate at a time. For a full decade, Frank and Emma Fawkner and their talented team have been serving dishes that showcase the very best of our region: produce grown in the Hunter soil, wines poured from Hunter vineyards and native ingredients that remind us we are lucky to live in the best part of Australia. EXP has become more than a restaurant; it's a true destination.”
“They are taking the pressure off Singleton, Cessnock, Maitland and the John Hunter hospitals, because people can walk in seven days a week, get free care and avoid hours in the ED. We are building Medicare mental health centres in Cessnock and Muswellbrook plus a bigger and improved headspace centre for Cessnock. From January, the maximum price of a PBS script will fall to $25. That's the lowest it's been in over 20 years. New South Wales families have already saved more than half a billion dollars on cheaper medicines. Labor is strengthening Medicare, backing mental health, delivering cheaper medicines and giving the Hunter families real cost-of-living relief.”
“This government is making the biggest investment in Medicare since it was created more than 40 years ago. Here in the Hunter that means more doctors, more urgent care, cheaper medicines and stronger mental health services for local families. We're investing $8.5 billion to deliver 18 million more bulk-billed GP visits every single year. By 2030, nine out of ten GP visits will be bulk billed, which is triple what we inherited from those opposite, who froze the rebate and sent bulk-billing off a cliff. Locals are already seeing the difference. Families in Cessnock, Singleton, Lake Macquarie and right through the valley are paying less and getting more. Right here in our backyard, urgent care clinics are up and running in Cessnock, Charlestown and Lake Haven, with Maitland to come very shortly.”
“They help young Australians sharpen their craft, chase new opportunities and make sure we're leading the pack when it comes to skills and training. We all know skills are the backbone of our workforce, and, in the Hunter, we know it better than most, because skills are in our blood. Congratulations, Anne! Your spot in Team Australia is a massive credit to you, your hard work, your dedication and your passion in the field. Go and smash them in Shanghai—the Hunter and the whole community will be cheering you on. I look forward to seeing your results, to wishing the team good luck, and to seeing what happens in Shanghai.”
“The Hunter was built by skilled people, and, to this day, it's skilled people we still rely on. They are the ones building our houses, keeping the lights on, mining our coal, looking after us when we're crook and being there when we're old. Today I want to talk about one Hunter local whose skills really stand out from the crowd. Anne MacLeod has been picked for the WorldSkills Australia Team Australia training squad as an expert in health and social care. She is now training to represent Australia at the international 48th WorldSkills Competition in Shanghai this month—one of the biggest stages for skills in the world. WorldSkills Australia does incredible work spotting talent, backing it in and showing the world the skills that keep this country ticking over.”
“It honours those who came before us, inspires those who will come after us and reminds us that we are a nation with a proud history and a shared future. Let's respect it; let's protect it. Let's never allow it to be used as fuel for hate or division in this country. If you want to burn our flag, you're not making a statement; you're making an absolute fool of yourself, and nobody in this country respects people that are burning our flags. To those who have done it: you should be disgusted in yourselves because it's an absolutely atrocious thing to do. We need to make sure that we're respecting our flag, because this is the country we have.”
“I see that paraded every single week in the Hunter, whether it's at local school presentations, the RSL ceremony, a community footy game or just an old mate who has one up on Wollombi Road. I see it there every single day; he takes it down and brings it up every single day. It's a reminder that, no matter our differences, there are things we hold in common. The people who burn it are a tiny minority, but their actions sting all of us. It's an insult to every digger who put their life on the line. They mock every family who has lost someone in uniform. They test the patience of decent Australians who are rightly proud of their nation. That's why it matters that this parliament speaks clearly, that we retain the protections already in place, that we back the law and that we send a clear message of respect. Our flag unites us.”
“Under the Commonwealth Criminal Code, it's already an offence to support a terrorist organisation, whether that's through funds, recruitment, training or backing in any form. Waving their flag can amount to support, and, when it does, it's rightly a matter for the police. That sends a strong message. The Australian government does not and will not condone the actions of groups who use violence and terror to pursue their goals. Most Australians respect our flag. They stand silently on Anzac Day. They cheer it on when it's raised at the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. They put one up on Australia Day. They know it's not about politics; it's about pride in our country, the sacrifices that built it and the unity that keeps it strong.”
“Property offences, public order offences and other laws apply. Ultimately, Australians themselves will judge those who show such disrespect. That's the balance our government has struck—protecting the freedom to speak in protest whilst ensuring the laws apply when behaviour crosses into violence, disorder and hate. That's the mark of a confident democracy. Another issue tied up in this debate is the flying of terrorist flags in our community. We've all seen the images of groups waving the symbols of organisations that have murdered innocent women, men and children and are trying to spread fear across this country. These groups stand against everything Australia is about. To see their flags paraded down the street makes my blood boil, and it also makes me sick. But, again, the law is very clear.”
“They feel sick, they feel angry, because it's a slap in the face to everything that that flag stands for. It's disrespectful and it's disgraceful. It goes against the values that unite us as Australians. Let me be clear. Australia is a free country. We believe in free speech and we believe in the right to protest. But free speech does not mean you get to spit in the face of every soldier who has worn that flag or every family who has laid a loved one to rest under it. There are plenty of ways to make your point in this country. You can march, you can speak, you can write, you can even vote. None of those things require burning our national flag. The Flags Act 1953 makes it clear how the flag should be treated with dignity and respect. Whilst it doesn't impose criminal penalties for desecration, people are not above the law.”
“There are some things in this country that should never be up for debate. Our national flag is one of them. The flag is what our diggers in the Defence Force, men and women, wear on their shoulders when they serve this amazing country. It's the flag that gets handed to a grieving family when their loved one has made the ultimate sacrifice. It's the flag that kids salute at school assemblies. It gets waved at the footy and flies proudly over local town halls right across the Hunter and right across this great nation. It's not just a bit of cloth; it's who we are. It represents sacrifice, service, mateship and the freedoms we all enjoy. So when we see protesters setting fire to the Australian flag, most Australians feel the exact same way that I do.”
“And to the amazing women in all the blokes' lives: whether you're talking to your partner, your husband, your dad, your brother or just one of your mates, have a conversation with them about how much prostate cancer matters and about how easy it is to get it checked. There are still so many men out there who don't realise how simple this is to get checked.”
“So to the men of Australia I say don't wait until it's too late. Don't put off getting checked like you have been putting off painting the house for the last two years. Get checked and stay alive. You owe it to your family, you owe it to your mates and you owe it to yourself. This motion is about encouraging early checks, supporting health workers and making sure that no man is left behind—and no family is left behind either. Talking about men's health saves lives, and early action gives men the best chance to live long and well. So let's use this September to have a conversation about prostate cancer, to remember there are no more fingers in the anus, no more being scared to see your doctor; it's a simple little blood test. Get out there and have a chat to your mates.”
“Without the work you do we would not have the same level of awareness about one of our most common cancers, and without this awareness we would not be taking action to help men get on top of it. For this year's Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is fighting for zero deaths from prostate cancer. You can get involved by taking part in the Long Run, which encourages people to walk, ride or run 72km during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness and funds for the 72 Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer each day. It is an easy thing for us to do that can make a huge difference. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer for men in Australia, but, if caught early, it can also be one of the most successfully treated cancers.”
“I commend what is being done by the federal government to improve access to high-quality diagnosis and treatment, with initiatives such as specialist nurses, mental health support and better follow-up care. These are things that make all the difference and often keep men alive for longer. I also want to recognise the vital role that GPs, nurses, specialists and allied health workers play in early detection, treatment, recovery and survivorship. You are doing bloody important work, and there are countless men who are still alive today because of you. Finally, I want to acknowledge the important work of community organisations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and local support groups.”
“Men in rural and regional areas, like mine in the Hunter; First Nations men; and men with a family history of prostate cancer often face barriers preventing them from getting checked and detecting it early. This is something we are working urgently to address. If you are a man between 50 and 69, if you are younger and have additional risk factors like a family history of prostate cancer or if you have a Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, I urge you to get checked. Talk to your GP about the risks, get a simple PSA test, and act early on any concerns or symptoms. Work is well underway to make sure that men have the best access to possible treatment.”
“If we're not talking about prostate cancer, men will not know how big of a threat it poses to so many blokes around this amazing country and they will not know how easy it is to be able to get on top of it early and keep living a fantastic life. September gives us the perfect opportunity to bring up this very important conversation. The point of this month is to make men aware of prostate cancer, inform them of what to look out for and when to get checked and, importantly, remind them of the huge impact it can have on partners, families and mates if they do not keep on top of it. Unfortunately, not everyone bloke has the same access to screening, diagnosis and care.”
“Let's talk about an extremely important issue that is impacting men all around this country: prostate cancer. Once upon a time, getting your prostate checked meant having a doctor get a little bit closer than what most people—definitely most men—would ever want their doctors to be. I get why some blokes may not have been lining up to have their prostate checked, even if it's something that really must be done, but it's 2025, and you no longer need a finger up the bum to get your prostate checked. With just a simple little prick on your finger, you can get all the results through a simple blood test. It's quick and easy—you get to keep your pants on!—and you can find out the important information about your prostate to save your life.”
“I move: That this House: (1) notes that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and that prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australian men, with a profound impact on men, their partners, families and communities; (2) recognises the vital role of general practitioners, nurses, specialists and allied health workers in early detection, treatment, recovery and survivorship, and acknowledges the important work of community organisations including the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and local support groups; (3) acknowledges that men in regional and rural communities, First Nations men, and men with a family history of prostate cancer face higher risks and often greater barriers to timely screening, diagnosis and care; (4) encourages men, particularly those aged 50 to 69, and younger men with additional risk factors, to talk with their general practitioner about prostate-specific antigen testing and individual risk, and to act early on symptoms or concerns; (5) commends the work underway, including by the Government, to improve access to high quality diagnosis and treatment, with initiatives such as specialist nurses, mental health supports and better follow-up care; and (6) affirms that talking about men's health saves lives and that early action gives men the best chance to live long and well.”
“Make sure you get out and have a good drink, because you deserve it. It's bloody good to see a young sportsman from the Hunter stepping up and showing the world what we're made of. The Hunter isn't just about coal and power, wine and grapes, and thoroughbreds. We're Australia's real sporting capital. Cody, the whole region's behind you, mate. Go smash it and make us proud. I hope we hear these words uttered a lot on the day:180!”
“The Hunter is a region built on champion sporting legends past and present—and plenty more to come. And the next chapter is already here. Cessnock's own Cody Dewey has been called up to wear the green and gold at the 2025 PDC world youth darts championships. In October he's flying to the UK, carrying the Hunter spirit with him and representing the whole country. It's no surprise he's been picked. By day Cody is a hardworking boily; by night he's a dart-throwing machine. He's a bloke who puts in the hours on the tools and also on the board. It's the sort of grit and grind that really makes champions. From my own days as an Olympic shooter, I know what that takes—the discipline, the sacrifice and the hours that nobody else sees. Cody's got this in spades. And, mate, when you bring it home in October, don't forget to celebrate.”
“I just want to say, to the member for Cowper, you've gone through a massively hard time, and I'm glad you're in the chamber now for us to have this conversation. These are hard, hard things to talk about. So please make sure that you're getting the help that you need along the way as well.”
“I know that, when I get together with my mates, we don't sit around talking about what is causing us stress. Most of us wouldn't even dream of bringing up our feelings or our emotions. But you know what? Maybe we should. We all have stress and pressures in life; it's normal, and it's unavoidable. But, whether it's stress from work or family struggles or just feeling flat for no reason at all, you don't have to carry it alone. Talk to a mate, call your GP, take a break, ask for help and don't wait until you're at breaking point. There's no shame in having a bad day, but there's power in doing something about it. You're not alone, you're not weak and you're not meant to suffer in silence.”
“The issue of men dying young is an important one, and it deserves a position in this place focused on addressing it. Now we have that, and I'm so proud of the Albanese Labor government that we have now done this. Whether it was me or somebody else—it doesn't matter who it was in this role—I'm just glad that we have a government that is actually talking about this. There are two equally important parts of men's health: mental health and physical health. When it comes to our mental health, there is one thing that we as men need to get better at, and that's just talking to each other. The sad truth is that most people know a man who has taken his own life. It doesn't need to be this way. Our mental health isn't an easy topic to talk about.”
“For the first time in this country's history we have a role dedicated towards the health of men, and I am very humbled to have been given this huge responsibility of serving as the first-ever Special Envoy for Men's Health. I am also excited because this role has huge potential to make a real difference in men's health outcomes all around this country. One of the major benefits of this role is the opportunity to get the conversation started. It's about time that this topic has been brought to the floors of this parliament. When 75 per cent of suicides are men and some of our biggest killers, like heart disease, impact men at a massively higher rate than women, it's obvious that these issues need to be addressed and that changes need to be made.”
“And what does this all mean? It means that men are dying too young. In fact, we are dying on average five years younger than the amazing women in our lives. But these aren't just numbers or facts written on a piece of paper. Behind every single number is a person: a father, a son, a husband. What these numbers and facts represent is a widespread, undeniable issue facing men of every race, religion and age in every corner of our country. The long and the short of it is that men are dying younger than they need to, and we owe to it each other to find out why. But to do this we need to turn the statistics around, and it all starts with a conversation.”
“Now I'm going to turn the spotlight on an issue that doesn't get spoken about as much as it should. I want to talk about some facts and figures. They are stark and they are confronting, but they represent an issue that we need to talk about. I want to talk about men's health. Three in four suicides are men. Seven in 10 young people who die are men. Four in every five heart deaths under 65 are men. Men are 50 per cent more likely than women to die from cancer. Seven in 10 alcohol-related deaths are men. Three in four road deaths are men. Ninety-five per cent of workplace deaths are men. Seventy-one per cent of men are overweight or obese. Men are 1.3 times more likely to have type 2 diabetes than women. Over 3,500 men die every year from prostate cancer. To put this in perspective, 50 men die each and every day from avoidable causes.”
“I'm lucky to have such a great team who are passionate, hardworking and always ready to pull up their sleeves. It's fair to say that we have built a Dan army. None of this would be possible without the people behind the scenes who give their time, energy and heart. So, from me and my family to you guys, thank you so much for what you did to help re-elect me to this wonderful place. I can't thank you all enough. I also wouldn't be able to do this job without the support from my amazing wife, Alex, and my two beautiful daughters, Zoe and Asha. Thank you for all that you deal with and have dealt with over the last three years. I'm sorry for everything that I have missed in the past, and I'm sorry for the things that I will miss in the next three years because of my role. Thank you for your love, your comfort and your patience.”
“It's an honour and a privilege to once again be given the opportunity to stand here in this place representing the good people of the Hunter. Thank you to the people of Cessnock, Singleton, Branxton, Edgeworth, Cameron Park, Dora Creek, Toronto, Morisset, Wangi Wangi and Wyee and the people from all the surrounding areas for putting your trust in me. A very special thank you and welcome to the newest parts of the Hunter electorate: Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain and the smaller townships nearby. For the past three years, I've worked my guts out to be the best federal member of parliament for my electorate, and I promise you that this will be the exact same over the next three years. I want to thank you all. I want to thank all of the incredible volunteers and my fantastic staff and supporters who stood by me during the election campaign.”
“My question is to the Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. How is the Albanese Labor government improving access to housing for people in regional communities, and what are the contrasts between Labor's plan and other approaches?”
“Instead of paying thousands in mortgage insurance, they'll walk into the bank and say, '"Look what you made me do." Hand us the keys.' They'll be standing in the lounge room thinking, 'This is a state of grace.' No more 'teardrops on my guitar'—just new carpet and a barbecue out the back. Meanwhile, the 'anti-hero' opposite wants young people to raid their super. That's not love; that's 'treacherous'. It's telling people 'you need to calm down' about retirement, when really you're being left behind. It's 'a nightmare dressed like a daydream'. With Labor, young couples like Taylor and Travis get security and stability, because when it comes to housing we don't want people to just 'shake it off'; we want them to know, with their first set of house keys in hand, 'you belong with me'!”
“Labor's new housing policy is a real game changer. From 1 October, first home buyers can get into the market with just a five per cent deposit and no mortgage insurance. This is real help, cutting years off the time it takes to save for a home. Take Taylor and Travis, a newly engaged young couple from my electorate. Like so many others, they've been working hard, feeling like they're 'out of the woods' but never quite there. Before this policy, buying a house felt like 'a cruel summer': sweat, struggle and no relief. But now, with Labor's plan, they're finally 'fearless'.”
“It eases the cost-of-living pressures. It helps people live longer, live better and just be around for our families and our loved ones. That's why I proudly commend this bill to the House.”
“In 2026, it's going to be a new year and a new PBS because, on 1 January 2026, this change comes into effect. It will be no more than $25 for a PBS script. Unlike most new year's resolutions—I'll put my hand up for this—this one is guaranteed to stick because, with the support of this House, it will be the new law of the land. This is Australia. In this country we believe in affordable access to health care, and affordable medicines are a vital part of that. If you rely on medication to manage a condition, you live your best life. Your ability to access it should never depend on how much money is in your bank account. It should depend on the fact that you are an Australian and you have a government that puts people, not the profits of big pharmaceutical companies, first. This bill makes medicines cheaper.”
“That's thanks to the $689 million investment from our government—an investment that goes directly into the lives and the pockets of ordinary Australians. It is important to note that this bill also protects discounting pharmacies that currently offer discounts. They will still be able to do that even with the new $25 cap. That means consumers can still shop around and benefit from competition and pharmacies can continue to offer better deals for their communities. So this is not just a win for patients; it's also a win for pharmacies, who play a vital role in our local communities, especially in regional and rural areas, like mine in the Hunter. We have heard the phrase 'new year, new me'. I know I've said it a few times—ignored it many times too, but I'm trying to do better here!”
“That's why that is so important. We have frozen the cost of PBS medicines so that co-payments will not rise with inflation. This is the first time that that has happened in 25 years. We have delivered more free and cheaper medicines sooner. We have reduced by 25 per cent the number of scripts concessional parents needs to fill before the safety net kicks in. We have locked in a freeze on concession medicines costs so pensioners and concession card holders will not pay more than $7.70 a script until 2030. This makes a huge difference to the households that are already stretched by the cost of living. Because we are committed to cheaper medicines, four out of five PBS medicines are now cheaper.”
“When the price of a script drops from $31.60 to $25 it will be a genuine relief for these families. It means a mum in Dora Creek can afford both her asthma inhaler and her kids' new school shoes. It means a retiree in Wyee doesn't have to skip blood pressure medication to keep the lights on. It means a young tradie in Branxton can pay for the pain meds he needs to keep turning up on the tools every day of the week. This is not abstract. This is not numbers on a page. This is real money in the hands of real people in our communities, and it makes a massive difference. But we have not stopped there. We have introduced 60-day prescriptions, cutting the number of trips to the pharmacy in half for people with chronic conditions. That saves money and, very importantly, that saves time, because we are all time-poor as well; we all know that.”
“They have not cured Henry's condition and never will, but they have given him the tools to manage it. They have given him dignity, independence and a better quality of life. When this $25 cap comes in, Henry will save even more. Who knows—he might even be at the start line of a marathon before long. Let me bring this home to the Hunter. We have families in Cessnock who are already making tough choices about which bills to pay first. We have pensioners in Kurri Kurri who are stretching every dollar of their fortnightly pay. We have young families in Singo juggling mortgage repayments and childcare costs. And across Lake Macquarie, in Morisset and Toronto, I meet people every week who tell me the cost of medication is one of their biggest worries.”
“When we dropped the price to $30 per script, Henry's monthly bill fell to $180. That was a saving of $75 every month or $800 every single year, and it completely changed the way he managed his health and also his finances. He told me that in the past, when money was tight, he would skip the pain medication to save a bit, putting himself in way more pain than he had to. That meant flare-ups, less mobility and more stress. Now, because of that change, he doesn't have to skip his meds. He can afford to take the treatment his doctor prescribes for him. In fact, with the money he saves, he has even starting paying for a fortnightly physio session to help him manage his arthritis. He tells me he's walking most days now and feeling better than he has in years. That is the power of cheaper medicines.”
“This bill builds on the work that we have been doing since 2022 to make medicines cheaper. In 2023 we delivered the largest cut to the cost of medicines in the history of the PBS, slashing the maximum cost of a general script from $42.50 to $30. I know firsthand how much that change meant because people tell me about it when I'm in and around the Hunter. I'm sure they do in your seat, too, Deputy Speaker Freelander. Take Henry, one of my constituents. Henry is on six regular PBS medications, for diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure, arthritis pain and stomach issues. Before 2023, Henry was paying $42 per script. That added up to $255 per month, every month, just on medications. This is not a great spend. This is not a luxury. This is the cost of managing health and staying alive.”
“We all know what happens when there's a 20 per cent off sale at the shops; I know my wife does. Try finding a park for the Boxing Day sales. People will battle traffic, wait in lines and fight over car spots to save 20 per cent on clothes and TVs. Unlike the Boxing Day sales, this is not just a one day special. This is a permanent 20 per cent saving on something that you actually need—your health. In some ways, this is the closest thing to time travel we can give Australians. The last time PBS medicines cost no more than $25 was back in 2004, the year Facebook launched. That was back when most of us were walking around with flip phones and the indestructible Nokia 3310s, and I didn't have this luscious beard. We've come a long way since 2004, but it's about time medicine prices went back there.”
“People would be lining up around the block! To put it another way, if you need three scripts a month, under the current cap you would be paying $95 a month. Under this new cap, it drops to $75. That's almost $25 of savings every single month. Over a year, that's more than $230 back in your back pocket. That's $230 you could put towards your electricity bill, your rego or your groceries, or just having a bit of breathing space. And that's just for one person. Across the country, this adds up to more than $200 million saved by Australians every year. That is not a small thing. That $6.60 really does make a big difference. That's what a real difference looks like. Think about it this way. This is a 20 per cent cut to the maximum cost of a PBS medicine.”
“The reason we have been able to do that and the reason Australians can access medicines that are cheaper than they are almost anywhere else in the world is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the PBS. It puts a cap on the cost of listed medicines so they stay affordable, reliable and within the reach of every Australian. Right now, the cap is $31.60. If you have a script for a PBS listed medicine, that is the most that you will pay. It is already a great system, but we can do better. This bill reduces the cap down to $25. That means that, when you pick up a PBS medicine, you will not pay any more than $25. Now, $6.60 might not sound like a lot at first glance, but let me put it into perspective for everybody here. If your sixpack of beer dropped down from $31.60 to $25 overnight, the whole country would be rejoicing, wouldn't they?”
“I rise to contribute to the debate on the National Health Amendment (Cheaper Medicines) Bill 2025. As members of parliament our job is pretty simple when you strip it back. We are here to improve the lives of the people that we represent. One of most direct, practical and effective ways to do that is to make it easier for people to get by—to make life cheaper. And that's exactly what this bill does. We are a country that takes pride in our healthcare system. We love the fact that, no matter where you live, no matter how much money you earn, you can get the care you need. We are proud, proud to the point of patriotism, that, when you walk into a pharmacy to pick up your script, you can get the medicine you rely on without being sent broke—because access to medicines should never, ever be a choice between going broke and staying alive.”
“While those opposite play games with people's futures, our government is delivering. From 1 October 2025, first home buyers can purchase a home with a five per cent deposit and no mortgage insurance. That's real help, cutting years off the time it takes to save for a deposit. That is the difference. Young people in the Hunter tell me they are working harder and saving harder, yet homeownership feels further away than it ever has. I tell them this: help is on its way under the Albanese Labor government. We are here to help you and we'll be listening to you along the way. Thank you for your support.”