Jodie Belyea (Dunkley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On Sunday this past week, there was a groundbreaking announcement by the Minister for Finance and the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care focusing on providing accessible reproductive health care for women and girls. The Albanese Labor government is building Australia's future and strengthening Medicare with an investment of more than half a billion dollars to deliver more choice, lower costs and better health care for women with $573 million over five years. Women have asked government persistently to take their health care seriously, and we have listened. Here in the Federation Chamber today we are talking about it in the most unusual of places.

In my late 40s I transitioned into menopause. I spent the first four to five years treating it using alternative medicine. But as time went on that approach stopped working—there were the night sweats, the insomnia, the muscle cramps and the sore joints, and my wellbeing was waning with every month that transpired. I eventually turned to Western medicine to get things under control. Thanks to Dr Sandi Vinson Bromberger and Hayley Binding, who have both supported me to navigate the menopause journey. Without your medical advice, I may not be working at all.

The Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care spoke in the chamber just yesterday about her experience during perimenopause, with flooding on a tram on her way to work, and the embarrassment and sense of helplessness she felt. I remember when I was transitioning from perimenopause to menopause, sitting in a meeting on my first day of a new job, with my new boss, and having to get up due to flooding. I felt totally ashamed and embarrassed. This is the reality of many women experiencing reproductive health issues, with many women choosing to leave the workforce.

The women's economic and equality task report, chaired by our Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC, notes the cost of women not engaging in employment to our economy is $128 billion. Reproductive health issues like period pain, endometriosis and menopause have a significant impact on women's employment. I'm sure there are many people listening to this who will know a woman—a wife, a partner, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a grandmother—who has to stay at home from work or school because of reproductive health issues. Until more recently, we haven't spoken about our experiences openly. The topic of reproductive health has been placed in a closet, spoken about in hushed tones. I always remember my grandmother talking about 'The Change'. She, like many women, felt embarrassed and ashamed to talk about menopause and medical issues, but this week that changed.

Just like that, reproductive health is the hottest topic in health this week, because we have introduced more Medicare support for women experiencing menopause. A new Medicare rebate of around $110 for menopause health assessments will be introduced so women can get the care and support they need from their family GP. Funding will be provided to train health professionals, the first ever clinical guidelines will be developed, a national awareness campaign will be rolled out, and specialist support for menopause will be provided at the 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics. For the first time in more than 20 years we are listing new menopausal hormone therapies. From 1 March we will have a range of hormone therapies listed on the PBS, including EstroGel and EstroGel Pro, helping to secure supply and end the shortage of these important treatments.

More than 150 women each year are expected to save $290 a year or up to $577 a year with a concession card. Two new oral contraceptive pills have been added to the PBS for the first time in more than 30 years—Yaz and Yasmin—saving 50,000 women $250 to $300 dollars a year. Work is under way to list more contraceptive pills. There will be more choice, lower costs and better access to long-term contraceptives. One in 10 Australian women use a long-term contraceptive compared to one in eight in New Zealand, one in seven in Ireland, and one in three in Sweden. Medicare rebates for insertion of IUDs and birth-control implants will increase by up to 150 per cent, with around 300,000 women each year expected to save $400 in out-of-pocket costs. We will open more endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, treating more conditions, while those that suffer from uncomplicated UTIs will be able to consult a trained pharmacist at no cost.

The PBS listings come into effect almost immediately on 1 March, and the remaining measures will be implemented following the re-election of the Albanese Labor government. These changes could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetime. By presenting this package and making this announcement in federal parliament and in the national media, we are giving women, girls and those that love and support them permission to talk about this topic, to get educated and to get the help they need when they need it.

To my colleagues, thank you for your leadership on women's reproductive health. I would also like to thank the women in my community of Dunkley who have shared their stories and amplified the importance of increased support. Kit McMahon and Laura Riccardi from Women's Health in the South East and Cathy Halmarick from Peninsula Health have also been involved in running a forum on menopause to shine a light on this issue. It's started the process of demystifying a hot topic and enabling women to feel unashamed for asking for help and sharing experiences.

This investment has been informed by extensive consultation with women, healthcare providers, advocacy groups and the National Women's Health Advisory Council and the findings of two separate Senate inquiries. This announcement is a result of having women in leadership at the big table in the highest level of government. Half of the members of the Labor Party are women, and they are making significant contributions alongside our male counterparts.

I have been fortunate to have the income to seek help and pay for medicines to support my menopause journey; however, I know for many women, the cost of treatment has been a big issue. This announcement levels the playing field and ensures women can get the help they need when they need it. Thank you to the women out there that have shared their stories and led the charge. This announcement is a tribute to all of you—Australian women who have worked so hard for so long to have their voices heard on this very important topic.

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