Ali France
Dickson · Australian Labor Party · Australia
“I rise to speak on the Aviation Consumer Protection Bill 2026 and the related bills. Australia is a big country, and we are a long way from almost everywhere, including, very often, from each other. That makes aviation more than a convenience for Aussies. It is how we travel to see our family and friends.”
“The project was funded, the business case was done, the designing and planning work was done, consultation was done, preferred tenderers identified and the site prepared.”
“The only mention is 'to progress the delivery of a number of hospitals, including the Queensland Cancer Centre'. That's where the information stops. That's because there are no real plans to start the build.”
“Most importantly, it will be free for the consumer to use to pursue a remedy to their complaint. Second, the bills establish an aviation consumer protections charter.”
“The aircraft noise ombudsperson will be independent of Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence, consistent with the commitment made in the aviation white paper. The ombudsperson will have the capacity to publish independent reports and make recommendations to the government for policy or regulatory change.”
“It is the most significant reform to aviation consumer protection this country has seen, and it flows directly from our aviation white paper—our plan to protect passengers while keeping our aviation sector competitive and while keeping our proud safety record intact. Let me set out what these bills actually do.”
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“My question is to the Minister for Communications. What threats does Australia's social media minimum age law face, and how is the Albanese Labor government fighting to put parents and kids before platforms?”
“It's also about supporting jobs, because this contract will create hundreds of local jobs during construction. It's about planning for the future because traffic volumes are only going to keep accelerating. And it's about spending more time in the living room with your family, not in the driver's seat. On this side of the House, we're steering Queensland in the right direction. We're in the fast lane on delivery, not stuck in the slow lane of excuses. Queenslanders deserve more time at home and less time on the road. With Labor behind the wheel, we're driving progress, not pumping the brakes.”
“Without action, congestion will stall our community. That's why the Albanese Labor government is investing more than $1.5 billion, alongside the Queensland government's $389 million, to deliver the Gateway to Bruce upgrade. This project combines two critical works: the $1 billion Gateway Motorway upgrade from Bracken Ridge to Pine Rivers and the $948 million Bruce Highway upgrade from the Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road. After years of my predecessor idling in neutral, promising the Dohles Rocks Road upgrade but never shifting into gear, Labor is getting on with this essential upgrade. These upgrades will reduce travel times for commuters, improve freight efficiency and make sure families can get home sooner and more safely.”
“Rubber is hitting the road on our Bruce Highway upgrades, benefiting residents and drivers right across our Moreton Bay region. Everyone knows how choked up the Bruce gets. It's bumper to bumper and enough to drive anyone around the bend. That's why I'm thrilled we've hit top gear on the next stage of upgrades to the Gateway Motorway and the Bruce Highway. The Albanese government has signed a contract worth close to $2 billion to put the pedal to the metal on upgrades from Bracken Ridge to Pine Rivers. What I'm most excited about is the Dohles Rocks Road upgrade. My electorate is one of the fastest growing electorates in the country, and that means more cars on the road. Every day, about 160,000 vehicles travel between Moreton Bay and Brisbane on this corridor. That number is expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2041.”
“That's the promise of Medicare. That's the legacy Labor created, and that's the legacy the Albanese government is strengthening and will always fight for.”
“At the same time, we are rolling out our urgent care clinics across the country, reducing waiting times in A&E and providing more out-of-hours services. Our local Murrumba Downs urgent care clinic recently celebrated over 25,000 visits—now over 27,000. The feedback I get from locals on this service is all positive. It's a great local service. We are also opening walk-in free Medicare mental health centres right across the country, and we now have one in Strathpine in my electorate. On this side of the House, we are restoring bulk-billing, strengthening Medicare and making sure no-one has to choose between their health and their household budget. Whether you need urgent care, mental health care or a check-up at your local GP, we want every Australian to have access to the health care they need, with their Medicare card.”
“When we first came to government, we moved to triple the bulk-billing incentive for vulnerable patient groups, children under 16 and concession card holders. Now, for the first time, we're expanding the bulk-billing incentive to everyone—to all Australians. We're providing incentives to general practices that bulk-bill every patient, and we are seeing GP practices take up that offer right across the country. Well over 1,000 have switched to be fully bulk-billed. This is on top of the 1,600 GP practices that already fully bulk-bill. By 2030, we aim to have nine out of 10 GP visits bulk-billed. This investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed GP visits each year across the country.”
“Many patients who had only ever been bulk-billed were having to pay a fee for the first time to see a GP, and as a result some were skipping care because they couldn't afford it, resulting in poorer health outcomes for vulnerable Australians. The Albanese Labor government is turning that around. I've heard too many stories over the past eight years of campaigning in Dickson—parents forced to choose between groceries and a visit to the doctor; people going without treatment because they couldn't afford to pay upfront and ending up in A&E. That was the reality of the system that was neglected for far too long by those opposite. That's why the Albanese Labor government, since its election, has been delivering the single largest investment in Medicare.”
“And let's not forget the ill-conceived GP fee in 2015, where those opposite actually publicly campaigned for people to be paying for a GP visit, with the former minister, Sussan Ley, now opposition leader, saying, 'If you don't pay for something, you don't value it.' We all know that this led to an unprecedented decline in bulk-billing as doctors found it increasingly difficult to recover their practice costs without charging a fee. So I would say to those opposite, if you want to know why we are now doing everything possible to bring back bulk-billing, you should just look in the mirror and say to yourselves, 'It was the coalition that destroyed bulk-billing,' because that is the truth. After a decade of cuts and neglect under the former coalition government, bulk-billing was in freefall.”
“I rise to speak against the motion moved by the member for Bowman, which is really laughable, because the reduction of bulk-billing over the past 10 years is a direct result of the nine years of coalition policies—a direct result of the big six-year freeze on GP rebates implemented by my opponent, Peter Dutton, in 2014, when he was Minister for Health, and then continued under the now opposition leader, Sussan Ley.”
“We're committed to making changes to prevent perpetrators from using the tax and social security systems for coercive control or financial abuse. We must ensure that, when women like Lauren reach out for help, they are met with compassion and tangible support. Lauren said something to me that has stayed with me. She said, 'The shame I felt was indescribable.' No woman should ever feel that way for seeking help, and every child has the right to grow up safe. I commend this motion to the House.”
“Since coming to government, Labor has invested more than any Australian government ever, more than $4 billion, in frontline services and preventive programs. We made the $5,000 leaving violence payment permanent, providing support for women leaving violence. We are investing in emergency accommodation and legislated 10 days domestic violence leave. Importantly, we expanded discretion for Centrelink so perpetrators can't use the social security system to leave survivors with tens of thousands of dollars in debt. And we have reformed the family law system so that it is safer, simpler and more accessible. But we know there is more we need to do. We know this because women are still dying, and fighting to keep themselves and their children alive and safe.”
“There are thousands of Laurens across this country, women who are doing everything they can to protect themselves and their children yet find themselves trapped in systems that compound their trauma instead of alleviating it. Lauren's trauma reminds us that gender based violence is not just about physical harm. It is about power, control and the structures that allow abuse to persist. It is about the barriers that women face when they seek help—the fear of not being believed, the shame of being judged, finding a new home and the crushing weight of navigating complex legal and child protection systems while trying to survive. The Albanese Labor government is committed to changing this.”
“But, for Lauren, that was only the beginning. She told me about the lack of support she received from police and the hospital. She was doing everything she could to protect her child, but the system made her feel like the criminal. After that, Lauren endured further violence and coercion from another partner. She became homeless. She fought court battles. Her child was placed into care. At one point, that abusive partner took out a domestic violence order against her, a move that prevented her from completing her nursing studies and left her as a single mother with significant student debt. Lauren told me that, at one stage, she stole petrol because she couldn't afford to fill up her car. Lauren's story is heartbreaking, but what is even more confronting is that her story is not unique.”
“The date 25 November marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of 16 days of activism against gender based violence. The statistics are sobering. I, too, join with my colleagues to acknowledge all those who have lost a loved one as a result of gender based violence. One in four women and one in 14 men have experienced violence from an intimate partner. Women with a disability are more than twice as likely to experience sexual violence. These are not just numbers. They represent lives shattered and trauma. Recently, I met Lauren at a mobile office I held in Petrie. Lauren bravely shared with me her long and harrowing experience of domestic and family violence. Lauren's ordeal began in 2015 when her partner harmed her baby at just three months old. He was charged and incarcerated.”
“These bills will deliver on thousands of jobs in construction, agriculture and tourism and on clean energy projects, our renewable energy transition and a future made in Australia. We cannot afford to wait for another review, another inquiry or another election cycle; our environment and our economy are too important. The time to act is now because every delay not only costs us precious biodiversity but also costs us jobs—jobs that could be created today in the outer suburbs and regions, where economic opportunity must be matched by decisive leadership. It is possible to grow our economy, build homes and create jobs while protecting the natural wonders that define our national identity. Only the Labor government will deliver this important change. I commend these bills to the House.”
“He talks about protecting the environment while, at the same time, his coalition wants to dump net zero and opposes these bills. Everyone in this place has known that we made a commitment at the election to establish a federal environment protection agency and undertake national environmental law reform. Labor is the party for major environment reform but we are also the party for workers, for jobs and for housing. The bills are about getting the balance right—laws that are good for business and good for the environment. We can and we must do both. From the beautiful Great Barrier Reef to the rare platypus in the South Pine River, our natural environment is too important to risk.”
“The new laws will introduce national environmental standards—clear, enforceable rules that cannot be ignored or watered down. And they will empower an independent regulator to act when those standards are breached. Five years ago, the Samuel review, commissioned by the opposition leader, found the current EPBC Act benefited no-one—not business, not the environment. The review gave the then government a framework for these laws and they promptly shelved the recommendations. Those opposite claim that these laws are too rushed, but they have been aware of the scaffolding and the road map for these laws for five long years. They have had five long years to consider these issues raised by Dr Graeme Samuel. The member for Cook mentioned 'all talk and no action'. Well, the member for Cook should take a look in the mirror.”
“It's only fair that we deliver a strong framework that will protect communities like mine from development in the wrong places while encouraging it and making it easier in the right places. For too long the grey area between federal and state systems has meant confusion, delay and frustration for communities and businesses. The measures in this bill will tackle the underlying cause of delay while also delivering greater protections for nature. Under these reforms we will remove duplication through new agreements between the Commonwealth and states. There will be faster approvals for good projects, particularly in housing, clean energy and regional infrastructure, while ensuring that environmental safeguards are not compromised. The National Environmental Protection Agency will be an independent environmental watchdog with real teeth.”
“This bill delivers strong protections, faster approvals and greater accountability through the creation of Australia's first ever independent National Environmental Protection Agency. This bill is about getting the balance right between protecting our environment and delivering fast approvals for good projects, particularly for housing and transport infrastructure, in fast-growing regions like mine. Moreton Bay is one of Australia's fastest-growing regions. It is expected that in the next 20 years there will be 210,000 new residents. That's almost the size of Hobart. From young families priced out of Brisbane to those who are looking to retire or those coming from the south to a greater weather and lifestyle, outer urban centres like Moreton Bay are and will continue to be the most impacted by growth.”
“For far too long, Australia's environmental laws have been broken, outdated, complex, and failing both nature and business. Today we have the opportunity to fix them. The EPBC Act is last century. Those laws were introduced in 1999—more than 25 years ago—and do not reflect modern environmental science or community expectations for nature, protection and sustainability. It is clear that the need for change is urgent. The Environment Protection Reform Bill 2025 represents the most significant overhaul of environmental law in a generation. It is an opportunity for important change, and I urge the opposition and the Greens to take up that opportunity. You may not get everything you want, but I think we can all agree that the current laws are archaic and do nothing to protect the environment.”
“That is why the Albanese Labor government has committed $1.6 million for new, improved facilities at the sanctuary to ensure that this important land holding is maintained for future generations. I also acknowledge the support of local councillor Cath Tonks in ensuring that the sanctuary is a priority for the council and the Moreton Bay region. At the mill in Petrie, koala populations have grown by 22 per cent annually since 2017. But we all know that overall our koala populations have been severely impacted over time by development and much-needed housing. The message from my community and across the nation at the election was clear: we want laws that protect the environment, our unique habitats—our koalas—while giving certainty to those who invest, build and create jobs.”
“We have wet and dry eucalypt forest, rainforest, creek systems and coastal and wetland ecosystems. Nearly 30 years ago our local council had the foresight to preserve some of our precious Moreton Bay rainforest ecosystems, after local residents petitioned the council to save the land around Eatons Hill from residential development. Kumbartcho Sanctuary is now a wonderful place to discover and appreciate Moreton Bay's rainforest ecosystems. The sanctuary is an important wildlife highway, providing a safe place for wildlife to move from the state forest to the river. This rare pocket of untouched rainforest has six kilometres of walking paths throughout the forest and near the river. Saving this land is the only reason we have a unique urban platypus population.”
“Thank goodness that speech is over and done with. What a bunch of rubbish was coming from the member for Cook. I believe the Moreton Bay region is the very best place to live in the world. Moreton Bay, just north of Brisbane, is home to native platypus, turtles, frogs, lizards, snakes and many species of birds. We have flying foxes, native eels and a significant koala population, as well as powerful owls, which we know are vulnerable to extinction. Recently I was talking to students at a school in Lawnton. I looked to my right and up there in the tree was a koala—right outside the classroom. There are very few places in this country where this could happen. Moreton Bay is also home to one of only a handful of urban platypus populations in Australia, and it's found right on the South Pine River.”
“My question is to the Prime Minister. How is the Albanese Labor government delivering on its commitment to strengthen Medicare, and how does it help Australians to access the quality, affordable health care they deserve? Are there any threats to this investment?”
“The Leukaemia Foundation has been providing care and support to people living with leukaemia and their families for over 50 years, including the many regional and rural families I met during my Henry's 18-month battle with leukaemia, families that got to stay close to their loved ones because of the Leukaemia Foundation. Every year, thousands of Australians have their lives turned upside down by blood cancers like leukaemia. The work of the Leukaemia Foundation is immeasurable. Thank you to the Leukaemia Foundation for 50 years of supporting young Australians and all Australians with blood cancers.”
“If the government truly wants to create a better tomorrow, it must do more than just talk about tolerance—it must act. That means stronger protections against discrimination, proper education in schools that teaches empathy and inclusivity, and support for young people who feel silenced or left out. My generation doesn't want to live in a country divided by fear. We want a future built on acceptance, kindness, and courage. If our leaders take bold steps today, they can help create an Australia where difference is not just tolerated but celebrated—and that is the kind of tomorrow I want to grow up in. Thanks, Heidi. I'd also like to use my remaining time to acknowledge that this year we are celebrating 50 years of the Leukaemia Foundation.”
“I am so pleased to read out a statement from 16-year-old Heidi from my electorate of Dixon as part of the Raise our Voice campaign. My name is Heidi and at the time of writing, I am a 16 year old student. As a young Australian, I believe our government has a responsibility to build a future where every person is accepted for who they are—no matter their race, religion, sexuality, or culture. Too often, young people grow up hearing voices of hate and division, when what we desperately need is love, respect, and understanding. Australia is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and that should be our greatest strength. But when people are judged for the colour of their skin, who they love, or the faith they follow, we all lose.”
“Today, I was proud to join my Labor caucus colleagues to announce that another contraceptive has been added to the PBS. From November 1, the NuvaRing will cost just $31.60 per script or $7.70 for concessional patients. From January, that cost drops even further to $25. What once cost $270 a year will now cost just $25. I'm proud to be part of a government that listens, acts and delivers for Australian women.”
“For decades, women's health has been ignored or belittled. I was told in my late 40s that my tiredness was probably diet related and that I should increase my iron intake. I was told my migraines, which I had never had before, were probably the result of stress. Looking back, I was in perimenopause. I'm now aged 52. I am in my menopause era, and I am one of the tens of thousands of women who are benefiting from the Albanese Labor government's record women's health package. I am taking all of the things available to mitigate the symptoms and live a productive, happy life. Getting the diagnosis and initial treatment cost me over $1,000. I've been paying about $800 a year for medications over the past few years. Now, as a result of Albanese Labor government's $800 million women's health package, the annual cost has halved for me.”
“We're acting on what matters, and we're delivering on our promise to get more people into their own homes—perhaps a little bush retreat where the kookaburras call—with their own kitchens so that they can cook up a roast or vegemite on toast.”
“As a single mum, I am also incredibly proud that the Albanese Labor government is backing single parents, who often face even greater challenges when it comes to homeownership. We are also investing in social and affordable homes for vulnerable people who can't afford rent let alone buy a home. There are around 28,000 social and affordable homes in planning or under construction. When those opposite were in government they failed to invest in housing, only building 373 social and affordable homes in nine long years of government. The Albanese government is making real progress. We're listening to Australians.”
“During the election campaign, I spoke to many young couples and single parents—long-term renters—who told me they feel like they're always just that one step behind. Many of them told me that making it easier to buy their first home was what they cared about most. Since we came to government in 2022, 1,200 people in Dickson have already been able to buy their first home with a five per cent deposit or less. We are also building 100,000 new homes exclusively for first home buyers so they don't miss out to property investors. We are continuing the largest housing build in Australian history, because more housing means more affordable homes. Whether it's apartments for young professionals, townhouses for growing families or accessible homes for older Australians and those with a disability, we're building for everyone.”
“From 1 October, first home buyers will be able to purchase a home with just a five per cent deposit. And, because the government will guarantee part of these mortgages, buyers won't be hit with tens of thousands of dollars in lenders mortgage insurance. On average, they will save about $25,000. For first-time homebuyers in my community of Dickson, I know this will make a real difference. Our beautiful Moreton Bay community is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. North of Brisbane, many young families are moving to Moreton Bay after being priced out of Brisbane. Nearly 800,000 people are expected to live in the City of Moreton Bay by 2046. That's more than double the size of Hobart and almost double the size of the whole of the ACT.”
“Young people have the same homeownership aspirations as generations gone by, but our young people are losing hope that homeownership is possible. The portion of average wages dedicated to mortgage payments has risen dramatically, from 32 per cent in the late nineties to 49 per cent in 2024. That means Australians are now spending nearly half their household income on mortgage repayments, and, in some states, they spend over 50 per cent. House prices have gone up, and interest rates have gone up. But, for a decade, while the coalition was in power, wages stagnated. All of these things combined have made homeownership so much more difficult than in previous generations. That's why the Albanese Labor government is expanding our First Home Guarantee.”
“Young Australians wish they could afford a home amongst the gum trees or a home with lots of plum trees, a sheep or two or a kangaroo. Young Australians just want a roof over their heads. An eighties built flat with no veranda out the back would do. Owning your own home is the great Australian dream, but, for many hardworking Australians, the dream of owning a home is slipping further and further out of reach. That is why the Albanese Labor government is helping first home buyers get into a home of their own by offering five per cent deposits and guaranteeing a portion of their home loan so they don't have to pay lenders mortgage insurance. Single parents will also be able to buy a home with just a two per cent deposit.”
“The state-run health services, including allied health professionals, speech therapists and other specialists, provide services across my state of Queensland, servicing Medicare and aged-care patients, but they won't touch NDIS participants. We are now doing everything we can to renegotiate with the states to get them back in, to ensure everyone gets the support they need to begin with foundational supports. I say to people with a disability and their families: we have your back. We will walk on this journey of change together. We will listen. We will not let the NDIS fall into total disrepair. I also say to the states: you are failing kids and people with a disability on a grand scale. You know this. You see it. You hear it. Don't turn away from us.”
“That is why foundational supports and Thriving Kids are so very important. We need change because we must have support for all kids, no matter where you live or your socioeconomic status. We need early intervention in early learning settings, in schools and in the community. Support from health agencies, schools and community providers were allowed to dwindle by those opposite. The exodus is so complete that, in most areas, non-NDIS supports have disappeared for many families whose needs don't fully align with the scheme's original scope. Those outside the scheme have been falling through the cracks—cracks that began to appear a decade ago and are now deep chasms of inequity. We must fix this.”
“But, when he moved in, he was unable to get nursing support, despite having the funding for 24/7 care. He lived a two-hour drive from Brisbane in a large regional town, where there are many participants but zero providers with nursing care. He tried desperately to get the state back involved in his care, because the alternative was to go back to his parents or a nursing home. I've spoken to families in my electorate of Dickson who live around Dayboro, probably an hour and 15 minutes drive, on a good day, from the centre of Brisbane. They struggle to get any providers or any non-NDIS community supports to their village. We all know that children with autism wait too long for diagnosis and early intervention, and many kids from regional and remote backgrounds and areas and those from disadvantaged backgrounds get next to nothing.”
“There were no basic fraud or compliance controls during the nine long years the coalition were running the NDIS. We are fixing that. The vast majority of providers are unregistered and unregulated. We are going to fix that. The coalition allowed the states and territories to step away, to stop being the provider of last resort, to stop delivering support when no other provider was willing to set up in a country town or remote community. The exit by the states has left a deep hole in our mainstream systems of support. We are throwing the sink at that. I spoke with the mum of a participant a couple of years ago, who was absolutely thrilled her adult son was able to move into purpose-built independent living, designed for his needs. It was the first time, as a man in his 30s, that he'd lived away from his parents.”
“The NDIS is dignity, opportunity and independence. It is a promise to take care of people with significant and permanent disability. However, we all know the NDIS needs structural change. Change is frightening, particularly to those who rely on the NDIS to have a shower, to eat a healthy meal and to get out in the community. We read about rorting on social media and we see the sceptics creeping in. People with a disability and their families are distressed by the criminals and rorters that have tainted our NDIS lifeline. The NDIS has transformed lives for the better, but we must ensure the NDIS and broader disability support services are safe and leave no-one behind. We have done the work. As soon as we came to government in 2022, we ordered a review of the NDIS, exposing the need for change.”
“In terms of the cost of health care, I remember back when I worked at a palliative healthcare charity after I lost my leg. I spoke many times to patients who were in palliative care—this is over 10 years ago—who were having to consider selling their homes, having to consider selling their cars, having to consider downsizing and into a cheaper rental because they couldn't afford to pay their medical bills; they couldn't afford to pay for their cancer treatments. I know that this measure is going to make a huge difference to those patients. I know this myself, having walked away from the hospital two years ago and looked at the bill for medications, which sometimes was over $500. This will make a difference to so many peoples' lives. I am so pleased that we are able to deliver cheaper health care and cheaper medicines.”
“It is the difference between getting bulk-billed mental health support or not getting immediate support. The Albanese government will never stop strengthening Medicare, and making medicines even cheaper is just one part of how we're delivering on this commitment. We've also delivered, and we are delivering, for Australians who want cheaper energy. We are giving, over the next few months, $150 off electricity bills. We are also boosting the number of bulk-billed GP appointments. In terms of the cost of living, we're also spending an enormous amount on housing, ensuring that young people get the opportunity to own their own home. Yesterday, we announced five per cent deposits for all first-time home buyers, which we know will make a big difference to those struggling to get into the housing market.”
“They left GPs with the tough decision about whether to absorb out-of-pocket costs or pass them on to patients, leading to fewer bulk-billing practices and higher out-of-pocket costs. Critics at the time described this as a copayment by stealth, disproportionately affecting low-income and vulnerable Australians who rely on regular doctors appointments and, in particular, those with chronic health conditions who need to go to the doctor on a regular basis. Those opposite might say this was from a budget more than a decade ago, but they're still singing the same tune. The member for Lindsay said yesterday that a Medicare card is nothing more than a 'political prop', but I know firsthand that that is not true. That little green card is the difference between getting treatment or not getting treatment.”
“Who could forget their proposed mandatory $7 co-payment for GP visits, pathology and imaging services, which they tried and failed to implement when they were in government? Their record on Medicare and health care speaks for itself. The former coalition government abolished the Australian National Preventive Health Agency. In doing so, they slashed investment in preventive health care like targeting obesity and smoking, increasing physical activity and improving healthy eating. They also terminated payments to the states for preventive health. They reversed public hospital funding, putting pressure on our hospitals and hardworking frontline doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals. They froze Medicare rebates to GPs for over five years and watched while the price of going to the GP soared.”
“This includes the new Medicare mental health centre at Strathpine, which I was lucky enough to visit on Friday with the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. The new Medicare mental health centre at Strathpine will help thousands of locals in Dickson. It will allow access to much-needed psychological and psychiatrist appointments. When we reduce the cost of medicines and provide more bulk-billed health care, we're also reducing the pressure on our health system. People stay healthier. They avoid hospital visits. They avoid the accident and emergency department and they get the care they need earlier. This is in stark contrast to the devastating record of those opposite.”
“We are delivering more bulk-billing for all Australians and making the single largest investment in Medicare ever. We are investing in women's health, making contraceptives cheaper, funding more treatments for menopause and helping women who are suffering from endometriosis and complex gynaecological conditions. We're opening endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics to help Australian women access the care they need closer to home. This includes expanding the clinics' focus to also provide specialist support for menopause and perimenopause, something for which women over the age of 45 and 50 have been crying out for a long, long time. We're opening more Medicare urgent care clinics and Medicare mental health centres. You can just walk in, with no appointment or cash needed.”
“We introduced 60-day prescriptions, saving time and money for millions of Australians with ongoing health problems, health conditions and chronic health conditions. These are real changes. They're helping real people, and they're part of our broader commitment to strengthen Medicare and make health care more affordable. We've also made sure that pharmacies can continue to offer discounts so that you can still take advantage of discounts at your local pharmacy. This legislation includes protections to ensure that discounting remains available so that all Australians can benefit from competitive pricing and local support. Our cheaper medicines are good for your hip pocket and good for your health. The Albanese Labor government is committed to strengthening Medicare because Medicare is Labor's heart.”
“It's about making sure that no-one in my electorate of Dickson or anywhere in Australia has to choose between their health and putting food on the table. It's not just a headline. It's practical. It's a meaningful step that will save Australians over $200 million every year. This change is a key part of our cost-of-living plan. It's money that stays in your pocket. We made a promise to deliver cost-of-living measures prior to the election, and I'm incredibly proud that we are delivering on this. We made a promise. This builds on our work we've already done to make medicines more affordable. We reduced the number of scripts concessional patients need before the PBS safety net kicks in by 25 per cent.”
“The last thing you want to think about when battling serious and chronic illness is. 'How am I going to afford the treatment?' This will make a difference to so many people across the country. My electorate of Dickson has already saved $9.3 million as at 31 July this year. We know when family budgets are stretched it's everyday essentials that hit hardest—groceries, rent, bills and, yes, medicines. For many people managing a chronic illness, it's not optional; it's a daily reality. We don't want people pushed into impossible choices, skipping doses, delaying treatment, selling the family home or cutting back on the food bill. It means parents can focus on caring for their kids, not worrying about how to pay for the next prescription. It means older Australians can manage their health without dipping into their savings.”