Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Pratt for her question. The government is committed to working in partnership with pharmacies, particularly those in regional and remote communities. In the budget, the government committed to reinvest every single dollar that the government saves with 60-day scripts straight back into the community pharmacy sector so pharmacists can play an even more central role in the health care of Australians.

This government has increased payments for services like dispensing, handling, administration and infrastructure by seven per cent more for all community pharmacies. The government recognises the importance of rural and regional pharmacies and will be investing in them accordingly. Starting this month, the government has doubled the budget for the regional pharmacy maintenance allowance, and from 1 September this year the government is introducing the regional pharmacy transitional allowance to support pharmacies in the transition to 60-day scripts. This will provide $148.2 million over four years for eligible pharmacies in rural, regional and remote areas.