Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens-initiated inquiries and the persistent pressure from women across Australia have finally led to the government listing more modern contraceptive pills and some menopausal hormone therapies on the PBS. The Greens have already announced costed policies that would completely remove the financial burden for women and make all contraceptives free, as they are in France, Ireland and Sweden, and costed policies to make all MHT free, as it is in parts of Canada—and it's heavily subsidised in the UK.

There are 4.8 million women in Australia using contraceptives, and making them free would save women hundreds of dollars a year and empower women to make decisions about bodily autonomy despite a difficult financial climate. The Greens want to work with Labor in a minority government after the election and deliver critical progress for women's health care. I'm pleased that the PBS changes take effect on 1 March, but why did the other elements have to wait until after the election? The menopause assessment, the menopause national awareness campaign and more endometriosis clinics have to wait till post-election.

The government's announcement did nothing to address the affordability and accessibility of surgical abortions. There are still abortion deserts right across Australia, especially in rural and regional areas. Women are having to travel hundreds of kilometres and paying thousands to get this time bound health care. It should be provided in public hospitals. The Greens will continue pushing for comprehensive healthcare access for all women.

I welcome that the opposition backed the government's announcement yesterday, but still Mr Dutton doesn't want to talk about abortion access. He's told his people to stop talking about the issue, but that doesn't fix the issues of affordability or accessibility. A Dutton minority government could send us back to the Dark Ages, bringing with it the potential for Trump style restrictions on reproductive rights in Australia. We cannot afford that. Women's health care must always be a priority, and the Greens will help to keep fighting for

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