Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There's nothing more important than our health, the health of our families and the health of the broader community. As a Labor government, with our history of creating Australia's remarkable public health system founded on Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, we are working to make health care stronger, easier to access and easier to afford. When you strengthen the health system there's a massive benefit in terms of individual wellbeing, and there are also cost savings. That's why we're providing cheaper medicines, especially for older Australians, that's why we're tripling the bulk-billing incentive and that's why we're creating a new set of Medicare urgent care clinics right around the country.

Because we're always seeking to provide relief now, while making a positive change for the long term, this budget includes some new measures that go specifically to improving key areas of women's health: $49 million to fund longer consultations for complex gynaecological conditions like endometriosis, building on the work we've done to open 22 new endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics; $56 million for new measures to deliver high-quality, tailored maternity care, following recommendations from the participating midwives report; $7 million focused on support for women who have suffered miscarriage and pregnancy loss; and $6 million for outreach health care and crisis accommodation centres for women and children escaping domestic violence. These budget measures are all about improving health care, improving broad community wellbeing, and improving gender equality by making a difference right now and by creating permanent positive change.