Llew O'Brien (Wide Bay, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When you think of a business that you can trust and rely on in your community, it's hard to think of one more trusted than your local community pharmacy. Local pharmacies are an essential small business, delivering health services and professional, friendly advice in many towns and communities. Our communities simply wouldn't be the same without our local chemist. The community pharmacy is often the first port of call for families and seniors who need some health and medical assistance, but who may not necessarily need to see a general practitioner. There are a proud 5,700 community pharmacies across Australia helping people with their health and dispensing over 300 million prescriptions annually.

I recognise the work of their representative body, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, which was established in 1928, serving the interests of its members and the public. I would also like to give a shout-out to one of my local pharmacists, Jacqueline Meyers, the managing partner of two community pharmacies in Wide Bay—one in Cooroy and one in Pamona. Jacqueline is also the president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's Queensland branch committee and has a keen interest in the health and wellbeing of her community. I thank Jacqueline and all the pharmacists in Wide Bay for the wonderful job that they do supporting their communities.