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

I acknowledge the work of our Tasmanian senators who have been making representations to the government about issues that have been raised with them as this reform is being progressed. As part of the reinvestment package, the government is doubling the total budget for the Regional Family Pharmacy Maintenance Allowance. There are currently over a thousand pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia that access this allowance, and current data shows more than 87 per cent of all pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia access the allowance. Under the increase, Australia's most rural pharmacies may be eligible for almost $100,000 in government assistance. And from September 1 this year, the government is introducing the Regional Pharmacy Transition Allowance to support pharmacies in the transition to 60-day scripts. This will provide $148.2 million over four years for eligible pharmacies in regional, rural and remote Australia.