Anne Stanley (Werriwa, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Few policy areas are more important to my constituents than health, and front and centre of health policy in Australia is the PBS, bulk-billing and Medicare. With that in mind, I was delighted by the most recent budget handed down by the Treasurer, because it delivers tangible benefits to my constituents. Firstly, is the PBS. The last thing we want when we're unwell is a huge bill at the chemist, particularly in these difficult economic times. The 2024-25 budget addresses this. The maximum co-payment for medicines covered by the PBS will remain frozen for all Medicare card holders. Further, co-payments for pensioners and Commonwealth concession card holders will not be indexed again until 1 January 2030. This is great news for my constituents and builds on the government's previous announcement regarding 60-day scripts.

But this budget also delivers in other ways for the electorate of Werriwa. Medicare coverage will now be extended to an MRI machine in Werriwa, expanding affordable access to these imaging services. The most recent budget announcements, on top of those previously announced that bolster bulk-billing, will ensure that Australia continues to have the world's best health system. That's good news for all Australians but particularly for my constituents.